The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement () is once again under scrutiny after reports suggest a concerning rise in suicide cases, self-harm attempts, and emergency incidents among detainees in the centers.
NBC News recently reported that in the last year, over 1,000 emergency requests were made from six immigration detention centers around the country, and one in 28 involved serious incidents of self-harm. While one man swallowed a razor blade, another drank cleaning chemicals, and at least three cut their own wrists.
The report, citing data from ICE, suggests that such cases are becoming increasingly common as President ‘s administration tries to deport as many immigrants as possible. Additionally, the detainees are being held for a longer period of time and without any possibility of release, a policy that has been challenged and is likely headed to the .
The reported instances of self-harm are likely an undercount. NBC News requested emergency call logs from jurisdictions housing the 16 largest immigration detention centers across the country. In response, six jurisdictions in Washington, California, Georgia, Michigan, and Texas provided detailed emergency call records.
Five suicides reported so far in 2026
The data suggests that at least five deaths by suicide have been reported so far this year in detention centers, making it the highest number of cases in two decades. Over the past four years of the Trump administration, when the government held half as many people, only two suicide cases were reported. Overall, the total number of deaths in custody in 2025 tripled from the previous year, as the number of detainees doubled during Trump’s second term in the .
Self-harm cases a sign of something very wrong: Experts
Citing Dr. Sanjay Basu, an epidemiologist and physician from the University of California, San Francisco, who has researched ICE deaths, the report suggested that self-harm cases inside a detention facility are a warning sign that something is going “very wrong.” Basu added, “If you see a spike, it indicates there is a much larger group of people suffering mental health challenges.”
According to experts, such deaths were “highly preventable” if adhered to suicide prevention standards such as early assessments and regular monitoring of suicidal detainees.
DHS’s response to the increased suicide cases
According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, while there are policies in place for detainees who are thought to be suicidal, no new guidance has been put in place on how to handle immigrants who might be at risk of self-harm in light of the recent cases.
Rejecting the suggestion that there is a spike in death cases inside ICE detention centers, a DHS spokesperson said, “Consistent with data over the last decade, as of April 30, death rates in custody under the Trump administration are 0.009% of the detained population,” and added, “As bed space has rapidly expanded, we have maintained a higher standard of care than most prisons that hold U.S. citizens — including providing access to proper medical care. For many illegal aliens, this is the best healthcare they have received in their entire lives.”
Number of detainees goes up, inspections decline
For years, immigrant rights groups in the have objected to the conditions inside these facilities, which are either too cold, crowded, or sometimes unsanitary. The agency is currently holding roughly 60,000 people, up from roughly 34,000 during former President ‘s administration, and immigrants are staying for an average of 50 days, up from 36 days.
While the number of ICE detainees has doubled, the frequency of inspections has significantly declined. At least four offices within the are responsible for conducting inspections of ICE facilities, but two of those offices have reportedly been severely reduced in capacity.
Members of Congress also periodically make unannounced visits to detention centers to tour facilities and speak with detainees as part of oversight efforts aimed at identifying potential concerns. However, during a recent surprise visit to ICE’s Otay Mesa Detention Center, Rep. Mike Levin, D-Calif., said he was not permitted to speak with detainees.
The report highlights the mental health struggles of detainees, detention conditions, and oversight practices inside ICE facilities, as the number of detainees and reported emergency incidents continues to rise across immigration detention centers in the country.
- Suicide rates among ICE detainees have reached a two-decade high, with five reported deaths this year.
- Inadequate mental health support and prolonged detention periods contribute significantly to the crisis.
- Calls for reform are increasing as immigrant rights groups highlight the need for better oversight and care standards.
