Dozens of people have died while in ICE detention since President Donald Trump returned to office, according to a new report, marking a sharp increase from previous years.

On Thursday, the nonprofit Human Rights Watch published an analysis finding that 52 people died while in ICE custody between Jan. 20, 2025, and June 4, 2026.

“The mortality rate of deaths in ICE custody is at its highest level in over a decade and has more than doubled since Trump’s second term began,” a summary of the report states. “The rate is nearly four times that of the Biden administration, and more than two and a half times as high as that of the first Trump administration.”

The Trump administration has strongly disputed the findings.

The analysis highlighted several individual cases. In one case, Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old from Ukraine, suffered a stroke while in detention. Despite showing “clear signs of an emergency,” staff failed to provide appropriate care, and delays contributed to his death, the group said.

In another case, Ismael Ayala-Uribe, a 39-year-old from Mexico, reportedly died after cardiac arrest after “repeated attempts” on his behalf to receive medical care were “mishandled.”

When reached by The Independent, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said, “There has been NO spike in deaths.”

“Consistent with data over the last decade, as of May 29, death rates in custody under the Trump administration are 0.008% of the detained population,” the spokesperson said. “As bed space has rapidly expanded, we have maintained higher a standard of care than most prisons that hold U.S. citizens—including providing access to proper medical care. For many illegal aliens this is the best healthcare they have received their entire lives.”

Since returning to office, Trump has overseen a nationwide immigration crackdown, deploying federal agents across the country to detain and deport immigrants, including in many Democratic-led cities. As a result, the number of people in detention reached an all-time high of more than 71,000 in January, according to Human Rights Watch.

That same month, numerous federal agents were deployed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, which quickly became a flashpoint for the crackdown and led to tense standoffs between law enforcement and protestors. During the surge, two American citizens were shot and killed by agents.

A poll taken the following month by Marist found that 65 percent of Americans believe ICE has “gone too far” in enforcing immigration laws. Sixty-two percent said the agency is making Americans “less safe.”

Since Trump’s inauguration, the Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog has opened a number of investigations into ICE’s actions.