ICE ends 30-day detainee death reporting rule amid custody concerns

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement will no longer report deaths of detainees after they are released from custody, the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed.

The policy change ends a Biden-era requirement that ICE review and report deaths occurring up to 30 days after a person left federal detention.

According to reports first published by The Washington Post, acting ICE director David Venturella informed staff of the change in a memo circulated on Thursday.

In a statement posted on X DHS defended the move, calling it “common sense.”

“Under this updated policy, when an individual is no longer in ICE custody then ICE will no longer be responsible for monitoring or reviewing deaths that may occur,” DHS said.

“ICE is not responsible when an individual passes away weeks after leaving their custody,” the statement added.

The decision comes as scrutiny over deaths linked to immigration detention continues to grow.

Nearly 50 ICE detainees have reportedly died since President Donald Trump returned to office and expanded immigration enforcement measures.

At least 18 deaths have occurred this year alone, according to reports cited by CNN.

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that more people died in ICE custody in 2025 than in any previous year over the past two decades with 2026 expected to surpass those figures.

DHS said ICE “remains committed to transparency regarding detainee deaths” and will continue reporting fatalities that occur while people are in custody.