Pressroom

Our latest press releases on important news and events relating to immigration detention in the United States

For media inquiries contact: media@detentionwatchnetwork.org

Cruel, Unnecessary, and Deadly: ICE Reports Three Deaths in Detention in April Alone

April 30, 2025

UNITED STATES - This month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported three deaths, bringing the total to at least seven deaths in ICE custody since Trump assumed his second presidency. ICE reported Brayan Rayo-Garzon, from Colombia, died in custody on April 8. Rayo-Garzon was in ICE custody for two weeks. At the time of their death, ICE was detaining Rayo-Garzon at Phelps County jail, a jail in Missouri.

National day of action across the country to denounce ICE detention, raids and abductions as part of the “Communities Not Cages” Campaign

April 17, 2025

Nationwide — Today, 17 in-person demonstrations and two virtual actions occurred across the country as a part of Detention Watch Network’s “Communities Not Cages” National Day of Action. Co-hosted by the American Friends Service Committee and Immigrant Justice Network, advocates denounced the Trump administration’s cruel mass detention and deportation agenda in 13 states and the District of Columbia (see the list of actions).

ICE’s New Facilities and Request for $45 Billion Would Exacerbate Inhumane and Deadly Detention System

April 8, 2025

Washington, DC — This week Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued an urgent sole source justification and approval notice for contracts for multiple new detention facilities, including for the Midwest Regional Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, North Lake Prison in Baldwin, Michigan, and California City Correctional in California City, California for ICE custody.

Senate Democrats fully co-signed Trump's dangerous anti-immigrant agenda

March 17, 2025

Washington, DC — On Friday the Senate passed a Trump-backed bill that gives billions more for detention and deportation, including a staggering budget increase of nearly $500 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), bringing the agency to a nearly $10 billion budget. In response, Setareh Ghandehari, Detention Watch Network’s advocacy director, issued the following statement:

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