Overview

• Two men died in ICE custody in Georgia this year: Abelardo Avelleneda-Delgado, 68, was pronounced dead May 5 during transport to Stewart Detention Center, and Jesus Molina-Veya, 45, was ruled a suicide by hanging on June 7 at the same facility.
• In a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, the senators requested an investigation into conditions and suicide prevention and cited their count of 15 deaths since President Trump took office, including 10 between January and June.
• ICE reported a different national total, saying 13 in-custody deaths have occurred so far this year, up from 11 in all of 2024, and said public notices are posted within two business days after notifying families, consulates, DHS, Congress, and the public.
• Recent postings drew scrutiny, with ICE press releases issued two days after an Aug. 31 death and seven days after a Sept. 8 death, and neither case appearing yet on the agency’s public death tracker, according to NPR’s review.
• The senators’ demands come as ICE expands detention capacity through military and state sites, while reports describe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and limited access to food and health care.