Four migrants died while in the custody of United States immigration authorities within the first 10 days of 2026, according to official press releases, raising fresh concerns over detention conditions amid a sharp expansion of migrant detention under President Donald Trump.

The deaths, reported between January 3 and January 9, involved two migrants from Honduras, one from Cuba and one from Cambodia, data released by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement showed. The incidents follow record-high detention deaths in 2025, when at least 30 people died in ICE custody — the highest figure recorded in two decades.

Details of the reported deaths

ICE said 55-year-old Cuban national Geraldo Lunas Campos died on January 3 at Camp East Montana, a detention site established on the grounds of Fort Bliss in Texas. The agency stated that Lunas had become disruptive, was placed in isolation and later found in medical distress. He was pronounced dead by emergency medical technicians, and an investigation is ongoing.

Two Honduran men — Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, 42, and Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, 68 — died on January 5 and 6 in hospitals in Houston and Indio, California, respectively. ICE said both deaths followed heart-related medical issues.

The fourth death involved 46-year-old Cambodian national Parady La, who died on January 9 at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia after suffering severe drug withdrawal symptoms. ICE said the facility has been used to house immigration detainees since last year.

Rising detention numbers, growing concern

The deaths come as the Trump administration moves to significantly ramp up deportations. As of January 7, ICE was detaining around 69,000 people, a number expected to rise following a major funding increase approved by the US Congress last year.

Setareh Ghandehari of Detention Watch Network described the number of deaths as “truly staggering” and called for the closure of detention centres. The US Department of Homeland Security and ICE did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The issue has intensified debate in the US over migrant detention policies and accountability.