Memo orders ICE to stop reporting deaths of newly released detainees Acting ICE Director David Venturella has issued a memo to stop reporting the deaths of newly released detainees, reversing a 2021 Biden administration policy. This change removes the requirement for ICE to report and investigate deaths occurring within 30 days of release, a policy intended to prevent the agency from avoiding accountability for the deaths of severely ill individuals. The agency claims the new policy is common sense and that they are not responsible for deaths occurring weeks after an individual leaves their custody.

• ICE is ceasing the reporting of deaths of detainees who die within 30 days of their release.
• This rescinds a 2021 Biden administration policy that required reporting and investigation of such deaths.
• The 2021 policy aimed to ensure ICE accountability for deaths by preventing the release of severely ill individuals to avoid deaths in custody.
• The change comes amid scrutiny of ICE’s healthcare quality and a significant number of detainee deaths and suicides.
• ICE states the new policy reverts to standard practice of reporting deaths only while an individual is in agency custody.