1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to you with outrage and urgency regarding the growing number of deaths in ICE custody. As of April 13, 2026, 47 human beings have died while in the custody of the United States government. Forty-seven. That is not a statistic — that is a moral failure. Recent reporting confirms that deaths in ICE detention have surged to levels not seen in over two decades, with 2025 already the deadliest year on record and 2026 on pace to be even worse. People are dying after being held for mere weeks or months. Many had no criminal charges at all. Multiple deaths have been linked to delayed or inadequate medical care, neglect, or conditions that would be unacceptable in any system that claims to respect human rights. This is wrong. Let me be absolutely clear: no one in government custody should be dying like this. No one. Detention is not supposed to be a death sentence. When the state takes custody of a person, it assumes full responsibility for their safety, their health, and their life. Failing in that duty is not just negligence — it is a violation of fundamental human rights. In some cases, it may amount to criminal wrongdoing. I am demanding the following actions immediately: • A full, independent investigation into every single one of the 47 deaths • Public release of all findings, including medical records, timelines, and accountability measures • Immediate oversight hearings in Congress on conditions inside ICE facilities • Enforceable standards for medical care, transparency, and detainee treatment • Real consequences — including prosecution — for any officials or contractors found responsible for abuse, neglect, or misconduct The United States cannot claim to stand for human rights while people are dying in its custody under questionable and preventable circumstances. This is not who we are supposed to be. If Congress fails to act, then you are signaling that these lives do not matter. I will not accept that. The American people should not accept that. Do your job. Investigate these deaths. Demand accountability. And put an end to this before more lives are lost.