Fact Check: "Deaths in ICE custody have been reported since the agency's inception."
What We Know
The claim that "deaths in ICE custody have been reported since the agency's inception" is supported by multiple sources. According to a study published in 2020, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported deaths in its custody since the implementation of a mandate in April 2018, which required the agency to publicly disclose all in-custody deaths within 30 days of occurrence (source-1). Prior to this mandate, while deaths may have occurred, there was no systematic public reporting mechanism in place, leading to a lack of comprehensive data on the subject.
The 2023 update on deaths in ICE custody indicates that since the start of the fiscal year 2018, there have been a total of 38 reported deaths, with 35 of those occurring after the reporting requirement was enacted (source-2). This suggests that while deaths may have occurred prior to the mandate, they were not systematically reported or documented in a publicly accessible manner.
Analysis
The evidence indicates that ICE began formally reporting deaths in custody only after the 2018 mandate. This requirement was part of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, which aimed to increase transparency regarding the conditions and treatment of individuals in ICE detention. The reports released since then have documented various causes of death, including medical issues and suicides (source-1, source-2).
While the claim is technically accurate regarding the reporting of deaths since the agency's inception, it is important to note that the lack of a formal reporting system prior to 2018 means that the extent of deaths prior to this period remains unclear. Reports from organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union and Physicians for Human Rights have raised concerns about preventable deaths due to inadequate medical care in ICE facilities, indicating a troubling history of health and safety issues within these institutions (source-5).
The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is generally high, as they come from peer-reviewed studies and reputable organizations focused on civil rights and public health. However, it is essential to recognize that some reports may carry inherent biases based on the organizations' advocacy positions.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "deaths in ICE custody have been reported since the agency's inception" is true, but it requires clarification. While ICE has been reporting deaths since the implementation of the 2018 mandate, there is no systematic record of deaths prior to that, making it difficult to assess the full scope of the issue historically. The formal reporting has shed light on the ongoing concerns regarding the treatment and health of individuals in ICE custody.
Sources
- Deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention: FY2018 ... Link
- Deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ... Link
- Detainee Death Reporting - ICE Link
- Deadly Failures: Preventable Deaths in U.S. Immigration Detention Link
- Policy Brief | Snapshot of ICE Detention: Inhumane ... Link
- Deaths at Adult Detention Centers - AILA Link
- The number of deaths in ICE custody is already more than double all of ... Link
