An Associated Press investigation has revealed an alarming surge in suicides among detainees held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with at least 10 deaths since January 2025. This marks an unprecedented number for the agency, which typically records one or no such deaths annually.
The deaths include Brayan Rayo Garzón, a Colombian man who died in April 2025 while in isolation and battling Covid-19. His request for mental health treatment was delayed, and he was denied his nightly phone call to his mother. Experts say the surge indicates systemic failures in overseeing the detention of tens of thousands of immigrants under the Trump administration's aggressive deportation strategy.
Nine of the victims were Hispanic men from four countries, and one was a Chinese citizen, with an average age of 32. Seven had no record of violent crimes in the US. The suicides account for nearly a fifth of the 51 deaths in ICE custody since January, many of which experts say were preventable with timely medical care.
The Department of Homeland Security defended its protocols, stating that suicide deaths remain 'extremely rare' and that detainees receive comprehensive healthcare. However, the AP investigation found that facilities repeatedly violated ICE's own standards, including ignoring signs of distress, delaying treatment, and failing to monitor at-risk detainees.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for a formal protest over Rayo's death, urging the US to reflect on how its immigration policy is harming both Americans and Latin Americans. Public health officials describe the increase as 'profoundly wrong' from a mental health perspective.
