An internal memo from acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director David Venturella orders the agency to stop reporting deaths of detainees that occur within 30 days of their release. The change, first reported by The Washington Post and described by multiple outlets, rescinds a 2021 policy adopted during the Biden administration. That policy required ICE to report such deaths to Congress and investigate them if the deaths occurred within 30 days after release.
According to the memo, ICE will return to “standard practice” that focuses reporting deaths that occur while a person is in ICE custody. The Biden-era 30-day requirement had been introduced to improve accountability for deaths after release involving people with serious medical conditions. A former ICE official described the policy shift at the time as intended to prevent releases that could be used to avoid deaths in custody.
The reporting change comes as ICE faces ongoing scrutiny over detainee treatment and medical care, with reports citing additional pressure following multiple detainee deaths earlier in 2026.
