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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opposes claims by Senate Democrats that 2025 was the deadliest year in decades for immigrants in federal custody.
In a Saturday message to X, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin criticized the allegations made in a report by Senate Judiciary Democrats, which claims that “30 immigrants have died in ICE custody since Donald Trump took office, making 2025 the deadliest year in ICE custody since the early 2000s.”
McLaughlin immediately hit back, accusing Senate Democrats of “trying to distort the data to smear the situation.” ICE law enforcement“
“There was no surge in mortality. According to data over the last decade, the death rate in prison is 0.00007%,” she said.
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Public Affairs Trisha McLaughlin on Saturday criticized the allegations made in the report by Senate Judiciary Democrats. (Fox News)
McLaughlin also argued that those in ICE custody receive appropriate medical care, as well as “higher level of care” than in most US prisons.
“As the number of beds rapidly increases, we maintain higher standards of care than most prisons that house U.S. citizens, including ensuring access to appropriate medical care,” she said. “For many undocumented immigrants, this is the best health care they have received in their entire lives.”
ICE agents review lists of names, times and locations for hearings at the Federal Plaza courthouse in New York. (Brian R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
The response comes just a day after DHS said ICE's “Christmas gift to Americans” came early as agents pulled out more illegal immigrants with a criminal past, off the streets.
“This holiday season, ICE is working around the clock to ensure quiet nights and safe streets,” DHS said in a statement.
DHS Views Latest Ice Seizures as 'Christmas Gift to Americans'
An ICE agent waits in the hallway outside the immigration courtroom at Federal Plaza in New York City. (Charlie Triballo/AFP via Getty Images)
DHS said Friday that ICE has arrested undocumented immigrants across the country whose criminal records include burglary, robbery and aggravated kidnapping. The Department of Homeland Security declared the latest defendants to be among the “worst of the worst.”
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A Democratic spokesman for the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Fox News Digital's Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
