ICE hiring dozens of health workers as lawsuits, deaths in custody mount: Politico

Immigration Enforcement Operations & Legal Challenges - A federal immigration enforcement operation in Los Angeles resulted in a US Marshal and an undocumented immigrant being shot [1][2] - Protests erupted in New York City during a joint immigration and customs enforcement crackdown on illegal street vendors in Chinatown [2][3] - Lawsuits filed by migrants, represented by groups like the ACLU, challenge alleged medical neglect in ICE detention, including medication delays, inadequate injury treatment, and poor mental health care [13][14] ICE Detention Conditions & Mortality - ICE is detaining a record number of people, including those previously not considered flight or safety risks [4][5] - Overcrowding in facilities, including tent cities, makes it difficult to control temperatures and prevent the spread of diseases [5][6] - Detainee deaths under the current Trump administration (20 in 2025) are approaching the total number during the entire Biden administration (24 over four years) [6][10] ICE Response & Oversight - ICE is hiring dozens of medical personnel (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists) amid mounting deaths and an increasing detainee population [7] - Experts are skeptical that the new hires will fundamentally improve conditions, as the underlying detention conditions are inherently unhealthy and unsafe [9][13] - DHS refutes accusations of medical neglect in response to lawsuits, despite spiking death rates [14] - ICE has attempted to dismantle internal offices that respond to complaints, investigate abuse allegations, and conduct inspections [15] - Lawmakers have been blocked from inspecting ICE facilities, raising concerns about oversight [15][18]