'There Must Be Accountability,' Says WA Rep Jayapal in Response to 50+ ICE Detainee Deaths

[cbabe]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/jayapal-ice-deaths

‘There Must Be Accountability,’ Says Jayapal in Response to 50+ ICE Detainee Deaths

“This is unprecedented and further proof that ICE and their private, for-profit prison contractors should not be sent another cent of taxpayer dollars.”

BRETT WILKINS
Jun 08, 2026

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal on Monday demanded accountability for the Trump administration officials responsible for the “unprecedented” number of people who have died while detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement during President Donald Trump’s second term.

“Yesterday, I was notified of the 50th death in ICE custody since Trump returned to office,” Jayapal (D-Wash.)—the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement—said on social media. “This is unprecedented and further proof that ICE and their private, for-profit prison contractors should not be sent another cent of taxpayer dollars. There must be accountability.”

According to ICE’s public database, 51 people have died while detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agency during Trump’s second term, including two people who were killed in a sniper attack on an ICE administrative and processing center in Dallas. At least 10 of the deaths were men who killed themselves, according to an Associated Press investigation published late last month.

ICE recently announced it would stop reporting the deaths of people recently released from ICE detention. The reporting policy, enacted in 2021, was meant to assure accountability and prevent the agency from offloading severely ill detainees.

Many of the deaths were preventable, say experts who point to systemic understaffing and DHS policy choices that weaken detainee care and employee oversight.

… more …

[maxsolomon]

1. I love my Representative, but there won't be accountability for these deaths.

Not until if/when a Dem occupies the White House, and given the Merrick Garland DOJ's example, probably not even then.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. Unless we demand it

I'm only going to consider Democratic Candidates in 2028 that are willing to use Gitmo as intended. Let these unAmerican domestic terrorists rot there while awaiting trial.

We cannot - MUST NOT - go back to status quo thinking. That requires you and me both to be a little cruel and start defining the enemies of America.

Those of us left of the old Republican party have NEVER done that before. They EXPECT us to play nice. They don't expect us to punish them for pissing on the Constitution.

We did this Play Nice Kissy Face in 1877 and it unleashed a cruelty on people who predated Ellis Island that went unchecked until 1964/5.

It's enough. We aren't doing that again. But it requires a calculating coldness and will to move America forward from rank and file Americans like you and me.

[leftstreet]

3. DURec

[republianmushroom]

4. Yup, should be accountable, but, you are dealing with

the "not my fault must be Biden's fault" administration. This administration and "accountability", good luck with that.

[GusBob]

5. I'd prefer prevention of deaths

Cutting off funds does not sound like the proper way to prevent further deaths

In fact it seems it would cause alot more