The Cost of Expanding Immigration Enforcement Is Becoming Clear

The second week of 2026 has brought an early warning. A woman has died from injuries sustained during an encounter involving an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. The incident follows a year that became the agency’s deadliest in two decades, renewing concern about what lies ahead.

Federal records and reporting by NPR show that 2025 ended with at least 32 deaths in ICE custody, the highest annual figure since the early two thousands. That toll coincided with a rapid expansion of detention nationwide, with close to 60,000 people held at any given time, stretching facilities, medical systems, and oversight mechanisms already under pressure.

The recent death of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis has intensified national attention, though it represents only one part of a broader pattern. Good, a 37-year-old United States citizen, died after being shot during an encounter involving immigration agents, an incident now under investigation and the subject of protests across Minnesota. State and local authorities dispute the federal characterization of the shooting, yet the case has come to symbolize escalating risks tied to enforcement practices that increasingly play out in public spaces.

A Record That Closed 2025 Under Scrutiny

ICE entered 2026 carrying the weight of a year defined by loss of life. Medical causes listed in preliminary death reports from 2025 include tuberculosis, respiratory failure, strokes, and suspected suicides, alongside cases where advocates argue that delays in care or inadequate monitoring played a role.

Three detention facilities have consistently accounted for a disproportionate number of deaths since 2004, including centers near Phoenix, in Florida, and in rural Georgia. Reports of overcrowding, sanitation problems, and limited access to medical treatment have followed these locations for years, concerns that resurfaced as detainee populations surged.

At the same time, federal oversight capacity diminished. Hundreds of staff cuts earlier this year reduced the reach of civil rights and civil liberties offices tasked with investigating deaths and misconduct, and the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that its Office of Detention Oversight remains inactive during the ongoing government shutdown.

Expansion Without Safeguards

Last summer, Congress approved roughly $70 billion dollars to expand detention capacity and increase staffing across immigration enforcement. DHS officials maintain that detainees receive prompt medical screenings, comprehensive health evaluations, and continuous access to emergency care once in custody.

Critics counter that funding alone has not translated into consistent conditions on the ground. Reports from journalists and immigration advocates throughout 2025 documented overcrowded facilities, unsanitary living conditions, and gaps in food service and health care, conditions that grow more difficult to manage as populations rise.

The agency has acknowledged ongoing efforts to recruit additional medical personnel, though detention health care has long struggled with staffing shortages, particularly in remote locations where recruitment remains difficult.

Street Level Immigration Enforcement and Escalation

Another defining feature of the past year involves a shift toward interior enforcement, with agents conducting arrests in neighborhoods, traffic stops, and other public settings. These encounters differ sharply from border processing or jail transfers, since individuals may arrive in custody without prior medical screening or documented health histories.

The death of Renee Nicole Good has brought renewed attention to how quickly such encounters can escalate. Videos circulating online show the moments before shots were fired, while conflicting official interpretations continue to fuel public anger and distrust. A woman identifying herself as Good’s wife was filmed grieving at the scene alongside the family dog, images that have circulated widely and intensified calls for accountability.

A Warning Already Playing Out

The start of 2026 has made clear that the dangers identified last year have not receded. A woman has already lost her life following injuries caused by an ICE agent, reinforcing fears that the conditions driving the record number of deaths in 2025 remain intact.

Advocates argue that the issue no longer lies in isolated explanations but in whether the enforcement system itself contains sufficient safeguards to prevent avoidable deaths and to respond transparently when they occur. With detention numbers high, oversight weakened, and enforcement expanding deeper into communities, the pattern that defined last year shows little sign of slowing.

The question now confronts policymakers and the public. Will the deadliest year in two decades prompt immediate change or will 2026 continue to add names to a growing list that many say should never have existed at all?