Brayan Rayo Garzon felt distressed. After being detained by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he started his fourth day in isolation at a Missouri jail while suffering from COVID-19 fevers and chills. His request for mental health treatment was delayed, and he was prohibited from making his nightly call to his mother as a precaution to prevent the spread of the virus.
Rayo pleaded with handwritten notes to be allowed to speak with her. ‘I feel in my heart that she is very worried about me,’ he wrote. A guard took the note and walked away. According to jail records, he was found unconscious in his cell less than an hour later. An autopsy revealed he had died by suicide.
Rayo’s death in April 2025 marked the beginning of a surge in suicides among ICE detainees, worrying public health officials and prison experts. The unprecedented number of suicides indicates a lack of adequate oversight by authorities detaining tens of thousands under President Donald Trump’s aggressive deportation strategy.
An investigation by The Associated Press found that at least 10 detainees, all men, have died by suicide since Trump took office in January 2025. This outpaces the growth in the detained population, according to ICE data, autopsy reports, forensic examinations, and police records. Since October, seven deaths have been classified as suicides, surpassing any previous fiscal year at the agency.
Normally, ICE records one or no deaths annually. ‘Something is going profoundly wrong from any public or mental health perspective,’ said Dr. Sanjay Basu, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco. ‘This is one of those sudden and alarming increases.’
Editor’s Note: This story mentions suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the U.S. National Suicide Prevention and Lifeline is available at 988 via phone or text.
Nine of the deceased were Hispanic men from four countries; one was a Chinese citizen. Their average age was 32. Despite Trump’s characterization of deportation targets as ‘the worst,’ seven of the 10 had no history of violent crimes in the U.S.
Suicides account for nearly a fifth of the 51 ICE custody deaths since January 2025. Most died of natural causes that, according to experts, might have been prevented with timely medical care. Acting Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Lauren Bis stated that suicides in ICE custody remain ‘extremely rare.’
Detention staff follow protocols to protect detainees showing self-harm signs, and annual suicide prevention training is mandatory. Detainees receive comprehensive care, including mental health services.
In response to the AP investigation, Colombian President Gustavo Petro urged the foreign ministry to issue a formal protest over Rayo’s death and called for U.S. immigration policy reflection.
ICE Detention Standards Violations
Reasons behind suicides are complex, often driven by multiple factors. Detainees report intense stress following detention, fearing deportation to unsafe countries, and experiencing frustration and loneliness due to language barriers.
Without legal representation, unlike in criminal justice systems, most detainees find immigration law complexities overwhelming. ICE is responsible for detainee welfare, but experts say well-managed facilities should have minimal or no suicides. Staff can mitigate risks by identifying, caring for, and monitoring at-risk detainees.
The AP found recurring failures to meet ICE standards during its investigation. Mental health treatment was delayed or ignored, warnings were missed, and at-risk detainees were not monitored. Some had access to self-harm materials.
Detaining distressed individuals in isolation can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness and humiliation, experts note.
At least three out of nine facilities where ICE suicides occurred failed to meet evaluation standards, as shown by agency inspection reports and records.
Dr. Homer Venters, a former chief medical officer for New York City jails, described the suicide rise as terrifying, reflecting operational and initial intake flaws.
Suicides Reveal Detention System Flaws
Among those who died was a Mexican 19-year-old detained after a minor traffic stop. Another was a 36-year-old restaurant worker who lost contact with his Nicaraguan family post-detention. A 45-year-old repeatedly crossed the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, with a criminal record.
Rayo was a Colombian Army veteran who became a street vendor. After turning 26 in 2023, his family crossed the U.S. border in California. He was detained for three months before joining relatives in St. Louis.
Rayo adapted quickly, making friends and working as a painter and delivery driver. His aim was to hire an attorney to stay in the U.S. after a judge ordered his return to Colombia in 2024.
He was arrested in March 2025 for using a stolen credit card, provided by a friend, at a vape store. ICE detained him afterward, classifying him as a low-risk manual laborer. He was placed in Phelps County Jail, about 100 miles from St. Louis.
ICE detention deficiencies emerged as the detained population increased by 50% to 60,000 during Trump’s second term. Five suicides occurred in facilities managed by longtime ICE partners CoreCivic and GEO Group. A sixth occurred at a facility run by an inexperienced contractor, later replaced by the agency. Three deaths occurred in sheriff-run jails, and one in a federal prison.
CoreCivic spokesperson Brian Todd expressed deep sorrow over deaths under their care, whereas GEO Group spokesperson Christopher Ferreira emphasized their commitment to safety and compliance with federal standards. Jail officials did not comment or respond to inquiries.
Leo Cruz Silva experienced a mental health crisis after detention following a public intoxication arrest. Denied timely help, he died in his cell at Missouri’s Ste. Genevieve County Jail.
Chaofeng Ge, under ICE distress, was untreated for mental health during five days at a GEO Group-run facility in Pennsylvania. The non-Mandarin speaking staff missed his previous suicide attempt and need for care. He was found hanged in a shower stall.
Attorney David Rankin criticized ICE for neglecting detainee safety, describing the system as cruel. At Camp East Montana in Texas, Victor Diaz, 36, died by suicide in a medical holding room. He was isolated after reporting bullying. Geraldo Lunas Campos died of asphyxiation in a similar setting; his death was ruled a homicide, and is under FBI investigation.
ICE inspections documented violations at the facility, including unsecured tools and unmet suicide prevention standards. Contractor Acquisition Logistics was replaced following the incidents.
Detainee’s Isolation and Illness
Phelps County Jail began receiving ICE detainees a month before Rayo’s arrival. Sheriff Michael Kirn hoped the partnership would alleviate budget strain by generating revenue.
Rayo’s issues started immediately. Jail records show a 35-hour delay for his initial medical assessment, beyond ICE’s 12-hour requirement. He struggled to breathe and requested mental health aid.
Using a translator device, a non-Spanish speaking nurse assessed Rayo, who denied suicidal thoughts. He was integrated into the general population, deemed stable, and referred for routine mental health care. His COVID-19 positive status led to hospitalization and a return to jail.
Two mental health appointments were canceled: one for clinic schedule issues and the other for his coronavirus infection. These delays violated ICE standards for mental health treatment within a week of referral.
Bureau spokesperson Bis claimed Rayo received ‘high-quality medical care’ during ICE custody. To ease his anxiety, Rayo called his mother nightly, her name tattooed on his arm. He held onto his faith and her support as he became sicker.
Kept in isolation to prevent infection spread, Rayo couldn’t contact his mother. On his fourth isolation day, he slipped two notes under his door, begging guards to let him speak with her. The guard used a translation app and planned follow-up.
Within an hour, guards found Rayo unconscious, a sheet around his neck. Resuscitation efforts failed, and he was taken to the hospital. His mother learned of his critical condition and impending transfer, later hearing the devastating news of his death.
This story was translated into English by an AP editor with assistance from an AI tool.