South Florida advocates mark 56 deaths in ICE custody with vigil
Organizers in Miramar held a Day of the Dead ceremony to honor immigrants who died while under federal authority, citing a rise in fatalities since early 2025.
By Alina Carter ·
Valeria Maldonado and other local leaders gathered in Miramar on Monday to hold a Day of the Dead vigil. The event was designed to remember individuals who have died while held by federal immigration authorities. Maldonado, a youth organizer for Seeds of Resistance, told the crowd that remembrance is an act of love.
The advocates stated that at least 56 people have died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. They reported that 11 of those deaths resulted from shootings by agents from ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Guadalupe De La Cruz, the program director for the American Friends Service Committee Florida Program, said the expansion of detention has increased the harm to detainees. She noted that no one should die in ICE custody and that the lives of immigrants and their families are worth protecting.
ICE responded in a statement posted on its website. The agency described detained alien health care as one of its highest priorities. It added that any death in custody is a significant cause for concern and that it prioritizes the safety and well-being of all individuals in its care.
The Associated Press, which tracks these deaths independently, reported a slightly higher figure of at least 58 deaths since January 2025. In Florida alone, advocates said at least nine individuals have died in ICE custody during that same period. They pointed to reports of severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and medical neglect in state detention facilities.
Maldonado emphasized that every person deserves dignity and the chance to live freely with their community. The vigil was organized by the Circle of Protection at Miramar, the American Friends Service Committee, Detention Watch Network, The Worker's Circle, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, and the Florida Immigrant Coalition.
Activist groups cited independent medical evaluations that found 95% of detention deaths were preventable with appropriate care. They argue that the rising death toll indicates a failure by authorities to properly oversee the detention of tens of thousands of immigrants.
