1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

Congress must investigate and stop deaths in ICE detention. When a person is detained by domestic law enforcement, immigration enforcement or in combat, there are legal requirements to ensure safe conditions. Such requirements have been continually violated by ICE and DHS, to the point that it looks as if lawless cruelty is a policy choice. Look at the stats: Per CBS: ICE custody deaths are at a 2-decade high. 2025 was the deadliest year for people in ICE custody in over two decades. 32 people died—matching the 2004 record. The ACLU found that 95% of ICE detention deaths between 2017-2021 were preventable with adequate medical care. The pattern continues: denied medications, ignored emergencies, unqualified staff, and a system that treats medical care as an expense to minimize. There have already been 13 deaths in 2026, less than 3 months in. There have also been more deaths that ICE isn't counting, like PA's Daphy Michel, a 31 year old asylum seeker who was taken into ICE custody, fitted with an ankle monitor, then found 3 days later with no pulse at a bus shelter on Pittsburgh's South Side. One of the most recent deaths was Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal who died less than 24 hours after being detained. Paktyawal had worked alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan: he risked his life to help the U.S. He was a young healthy man. Medical help was too late. Reports of brutality, cruelty, contaminated food and theft by ICE agents of detainees personal property should shock you. Recent news about Camp Montana is horrifying: At the largest ICE Detention Camp, East Montana, staff bet on detainee suicides, AP reports. They also beat detainees who requested medicines. Camp East Montana has received several 911 calls in the span of five months about immigrants trying to harm themselves. DHS Is now 'Upgrading' the East Montana Detention Facility - the one rife with abuse claims. East Montana should be closed. DHS leadership has failed to hold them accountable, so Congress must act. Congress has funded and enabled this. Despite the departures of Noem and Bovino, the danger of ICE is unchecked: In the past week Todd Lyons, acting ICE director, lied under oath in Congress when asked if there were registers of US protestors. I am grateful to all members of Congress who have been carrying out their duties of oversight. I remain shocked and appalled at the deaths, cruelty, and abuse, horrified by the lack of decency and legality associated with ICE. PLEASE: ---No funds for ICE or CBP until guardrails are added ---Investigate deaths in custody. ---NO on Mullin --Investigate Daphy Michel's death