In custody
Suicide, attempt, or self-harm
The person died by suicide, attempted it, or harmed themselves.
Documented in 10 states. Every well-documented story coded this way, grouped by state. See what accompanies it →
Arizona
Beatriz P.C.: Pregnant woman miscarries in ICE detention, still heldBeatriz Pastrana Candela, a mother of three including a 14-year-old, miscarried at Eloy Detention Center after staff repeatedly told her she wasn't pregnant. Five months later she remains detained, separated from her children.Eloy, AZ · Apr 1, 2026 · Lookout News, Phoenix New Times, Standing Record +1
Chinese woman dies by suicide at Yuma Border Patrol stationA 52-year-old Chinese woman died by suicide at the Yuma Border Patrol station after overstaying her visa. Footage showed required welfare checks were not properly done and medical help came nearly two hours late.Yuma, Arizona · Apr 7, 2025 · New York Post, NDTV, United Press International +6
California
Samuel G.T. and Minerva T.D.: Son dies by suicide two months after ICE detained his motherSamuel Gonzalez Terrones, 21, who had depression and schizophrenia, died by suicide two months after ICE detained his mother, the family member who helped him through crises. He left a note blaming the agent who took her.“My mom was the one who would take care of him when he would have those bad thoughts.” — his older sister Sari Gonzalez, 32San Bernardino, CA · Aug 12, 2026 · Los Angeles Times, Binghamton Herald, Global Economy Edition +1
Jessica B.: German tattoo artist held over a month after border stopJessica Brösche, a 26-year-old German tattoo artist, was denied entry at San Diego and has spent over a month in ICE detention, including eight days in solitary confinement.San Diego, CA · Jan 25, 2025 · The Guardian, New York Times, CNN
Florida
Georgia
Denny G.: 33-year-old Cuban man dies in ICE custody in GeorgiaDy, previously held for five months during Trump's first term, is detained again at Stewart Detention Center, separated from his wife Tammy as they expect another child.Lumpkin, GA · May 1, 2026 · Reuters, Austin Kocher, KSBY +9
Denny A.G.: Cuban detainee found dead in solitary confinement at Georgia ICE facilityA 33-year-old Cuban man was found dead in solitary confinement at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, a day after an alleged altercation with staff. His mother and two U.S. senators are demanding an independent investigation.Lumpkin, GA · Apr 28, 2026 · CRBC News, Ledger-Enquirer, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution +5
Heber S.D.: Mexican day laborer, father of two, dies in Georgia ICE custodyHeber Sánchez Domínguez, a 34-year-old Mexican day laborer who had lived in the U.S. two years, died in Georgia ICE custody after guards found him with a rope around his neck; his family disputes the suicide finding.Lovejoy, GA · Jan 15, 2026 · Telemundo, WRDW, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution +9
Michigan
Missouri
Leo C.S.: Mexican man dies by suicide in ICE custody after untreated hallucinationsLeo Cruz Silva, 34, died by suicide in a Missouri jail on October 4 after days of untreated hallucinations and paranoia while held for ICE. About 50 people later gathered for a community vigil in his memory.Ste. Genevieve, MO · Oct 13, 2025 · PBS, News.net, Spotlight PA +4
Brayan G.R.: Colombian man dies after suicide attempt in ICE custody jailBrayan Garzón-Rayo, 27, devoted to his family after fleeing Colombia, died after hanging himself in a Missouri jail cell while held on an ICE detainer.St. Louis, MO · Apr 7, 2025 · St. Louis Public Radio, First Alert 4
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Chaofeng G.: Chinese man with prior suicide attempt found dead in ICE detention showerChaofeng Ge, 32, a Queens delivery driver, was found dead in a shower at Moshannon Valley Processing Center on August 5, days after entering ICE custody. His brother's lawsuit says staff ignored his mental health needs and language barrier.Philipsburg, PA · Aug 7, 2025 · The Straits Times, Yahoo News, The Star +2
- Chaofeng G.: Chinese detainee found hanging, dies at PA facilityChaofeng Ge, 32, was found hanging and unresponsive in a shower room just five days after being taken into ICE custody at Pennsylvania's Moshannon Valley Processing Center.Philipsburg, PA · Aug 5, 2025 · ICE, Documented, ABC News
Texas
Victor Manuel D.: Father dies by suicide, left unattended in ICE detentionVictor Manuel Diaz, 36, a Nicaraguan father of two working at a Twin Cities restaurant, died by suicide at Camp East Montana after reporting harassment and being left unmonitored.El Paso, TX · Jun 9, 2026 · Associated Press, The Independent, Bastille Post +8
Gael: Nonverbal 5-year-old held three weeks by ICE began hitting himselfGael, a nonverbal 5-year-old from Colombia with autism, was held for three weeks with his asylum-seeking parents, developing abdominal pain and self-harming behavior. Public attention after a video call led to the family's release.Dilley, TX · Mar 24, 2026 · NBC NewsKenek and Vilma B.T.: Boy with severe autism self-harms during 80+ days in ICE detentionKenek, a 9-year-old with severe autism, was held over 80 days at a Texas detention center without his therapy, suffering meltdowns and self-harm. He and his mother were released with an ankle monitor after a lawyer intervened.Dilley, TX · Mar 16, 2026 · NBC News, Change.org
Detained children face measles, teen attempts suicide in Dilley, TexasFamilies and children held at the Dilley detention center faced worms and mold in food, a measles outbreak, and a 13-year-old girl denied anxiety medication who attempted suicide before deportation.Dilley, TX · Feb 27, 2026 · Boston Herald, Imprint News, News 4 San Antonio +13
At least seven children died in or after ICE custody, pediatrician saysChildren at the Dilley detention center have faced poor medical care and overcrowding, with a pediatrician reporting at least seven deaths, including a 5-year-old found with a cord around his neck.Dilley, TX · Feb 8, 2026 · Associated Press, SA Current, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee +2
Svetlana R.: Russian asylum seeker detained eight months, denied medical care in Houston facilitySvetlana Romanova, 59, who fled Russia after protesting the Ukraine war, has been detained about eight months in Houston, reporting poor medical care and weight loss. She is appealing a denied asylum claim.Houston, TX · Jun 29, 2025 · Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Houston Landing +1
Mayfreed D.A.: Venezuelan barber says Guantanamo guards beat him, denied lawyers before deportationA Venezuelan barber was transferred to Guantanamo Bay in February 2025, where he says he was beaten, denied attorney and family calls, and attempted suicide twice before being deported to Venezuela.El Paso, TX · Feb 20, 2025 · ProPublica, BBC, NPR
Location not tied to one state
- Lianyong W.: Chinese national dies in ICE custody in Northern Mariana Islands, suicide suspectedLianyong Wei, a 51-year-old Chinese national who had lived in Saipan since 2019, died in ICE custody with a bedsheet tied around his neck, less than a day after being transferred there.Saipan, MP · Sep 30, 2026 · NPR, ICE, Karm Active +7
Senegalese woman attempts suicide after being held at remote Ghana deportation campA Senegalese woman deported to a remote Ghana military camp with little electricity or contact attempted suicide by drinking bleach, fearing return to Senegal, and was later deported there anyway.Ghana · Sep 21, 2026 · The Guardian, Forbidden Stories
Middle Eastern man self-deports after ICE solitary confinement triggers panic attacksA 33-year-old Christian man who fled religious persecution had panic attacks and chest pains in solitary confinement after an ICE check-in, and left the country rather than face indefinite detention.May 14, 2026 · Davis Vanguard, Anchorage Daily News
Aled C.B.: Cuban man with anxiety dies by apparent suicide in Miami ICE detentionAled Damien Carbonell-Betancourt, 27, a Cuban national, died by apparent suicide in a Miami detention cell. His family is raising funds to cremate him and send his ashes to his parents in Cuba.FL · May 1, 2026 · CBS News, Diario Las Américas, Univision +5
Russian asylum-seeking family with three children held four months at DilleyNikita and Oksana, a Russian couple with three young children, were held over four months at Dilley despite a 20-day limit for minors, facing moldy food and poor care. They were freed in February after their lawyer cited medical concerns.Mexican border · Feb 2026 · The Marshall Project, Ansar Press, NBC News +1
Iranian man forced onto ICE deportation flight to Tehran after suicide attemptAn Iranian deportee reportedly attempted suicide before ICE agents forced him onto a flight to Tehran, part of a U.S. operation that returned political activists and religious minorities despite fears of persecution.Sep 29, 2025 · The Intercept, Iran International, ABC News