Since the second Trump administration began, there have been at least 75 deaths linked to Trump’s mass immigration detention campaign. L.A. TACO has diligently kept track in our Federal Immigration Agency Fatal Incident Tracker.
In 2026 alone, there have been at least 35 deaths linked to federal immigration agencies, according to additional reporting by L.A. TACO.
These include Jose Chajon-Raxon, who died after experiencing seizure-like symptoms at Delaney Hall Detention Center. His death was not officially reported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His death was only discovered following a congressional oversight visit, prompted by the death of Edwin Jeovanny López Cornejo, who died after being detained in the same facility.
Elsewhere, Prisciliano Trejo Ricano, 29, passed away from leukemia just over a month after being detained in the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. Juan Jairo Coronilla Duran, 28, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero, 26, died within days of each other in July, following encounters with federal immigration agents. And on July 7, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was killed by ICE agents during a traffic stop in Texas. In the incidents involving Guerrero and Araujo, federal agencies say that they were not the intended targets of the enforcement operation.
We consulted multiple lawyers for this story with specialties in immigration, personal injury, and in-custody deaths. We also reached out to the Consulate of Mexico in San Bernardino and an immigration group to create a guide we hope you never have to use.
In these unprecedented times, when unhinged federal immigration agents have been given guns and little training to conduct immigration enforcement beyond the border—shooting U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike—you need to know what to do if the worst-case scenario happens.
What can you do when your loved one dies at the hands of federal immigration agents?
We consulted multiple lawyers for this story with specialties in immigration, personal injury, and in-custody deaths. We also reached out to the Consulate of Mexico in San Bernardino and an immigration group to create a guide we hope you never need. This article is a starting point for when the worst happens. Not everything listed is applicable in every situation.
The first 24 hours after a death occurs are the most crucial, says immigration lawyer Pedro Chavez. This is the best time to gather evidence about what happened to the deceased, which can be crucial in later litigation.
LEGAL PATHWAYS
There are generally two paths to accountability for people who have been harmed by federal immigration agents, according to Robert T. Simon, a personal injury lawyer at the Simon Law Group. Simon is currently working on high-profile cases that have stemmed from the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign, including the death of Jaime Alanís Garcia, who died from injuries sustained during the Glass House raid in 2025.
He tells L.A. TACO that families can sue the individual agent who committed the alleged crime. The other route that families can opt for is filing a civil lawsuit against the federal government, which could result in monetary compensation for the people whom the deceased left behind.
Federal lawsuits are generally filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and people can now file individual federal lawsuits against federal agents. In federal tort cases, judges make the ultimate decision, so the judge you file with initially is really important to the outcome of the case.
“[I]n general, it's very hard to hold the federal government accountable, 'cause they have so many immunities, and they have dirty politicians and judges appointed with politics first in mind,” says Simon.
A third route for accountability is filing a lawsuit against a private third party. For example, the owner of the premises where the death occurred. These suits are governed by state law and overseen by a jury.
If a death occurred at a private immigration detention center, the private contractor can be held privately responsible for deaths. Government immunities do not extend to these private detention centers.
APPOINT A “FAMILY CAPTAIN’
During this time period, loved ones of the deceased are usually in shock, and the last thing on their mind is thinking about future accountability. The first thing loved ones should do is “appoint a family captain,” Simon tells us.
A captain should be someone who is not immediate family of the person who died, but rather a member of the extended family or a close friend. The captain should be in charge of managing crucial tasks such as contacting lawyers, sending preservation letters to relevant agencies, and contacting non-profit organizations.
SEND OUT PRESERVATION LETTERS
All the lawyers L.A. TACO spoke to indicated that sending preservation letters to agencies is a top priority and should occur as soon as possible after the incident.
A preservation letter is a document that can be sent to law enforcement agencies or any entities involved in the death to preserve evidence in case of future litigation. It places the agency on notice that if the evidence outlined is not preserved, and the case goes to trial, it could be seen by the court as willfully suppressing or even destroying evidence, according to Simon.
The letter is meant to prevent the discarding of what could be crucial evidence like camera footage, cell phones, Apple Watches, and black boxes inside of vehicles, which secure a lot of data.
If a loved one dies in immigration detention, this letter can be sent to the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security, and the private entity that oversees the facility, if applicable.
If a former detainee dies at a hospital, you can send a preservation letter to that location as well. If they died during an encounter with a federal immigration enforcement agency like U.S. Customs and Border Protection, a preservation letter can be sent to their agency as well as to the Department of Homeland Security. Preservation letters can be sent by anyone and do not require a lawyer.
Preservation letters can be sent by anyone and do not require a lawyer to send out.
Chavez says that it's crucial to establish a clear record that the entities were put on notice. Send notices through certified mail and make sure to request a return receipt to show proof the letter was mailed. Keep the return receipt and make a copy of it as well.
Look for the service-of-process address for the agency or entity, so the letter arrives at the correct place. He suggests emailing and even faxing the letter, in addition to mailing it.
Preservation letter templates that can serve as a starting point were shared with L.A. TACO by in-custody death lawyer Denisse Gastélum of Gastélum Law, linked here.
HIRE A LAWYER
If the individual who died did not have a lawyer, the family can explore hiring one.
A lawyer, like a family captain, can also support the family in sending out preservation letters, identifying a legal strategy, obtaining a ballistics expert, contacting the consulate, media outreach, and combating negative press coverage.
Simon says families should research the lawyer before hiring them. A simple Google search and review of the lawyer's social media can say a lot about them. There are plenty of accusations against specific lawyers out there who are said to be taking people's money without delivering results or doing things properly.
Search for their name next to terms like “civil rights” or “verdict” to see what experience they have. A Google search can also reveal whether the lawyer has been involved with any legislation and whether they have a relationship with the state’s attorney general.
Simon notes that if you are not satisfied with the initial lawyer you hire, you can always switch to a different lawyer. Another option is to contact an immigrant non-profit organization. They often have lawyers they can suggest to families.
CONTACT AN IMMIGRATION NON-PROFIT
Families can contact a nonprofit immigration organization, Chavez says. They can support the families in various capacities, including connecting loved ones with a lawyer and helping to create and manage a GoFundMe for the family.
One such organization is Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA).
Karla Aguayo, the Director of Legal Services at CHIRLA, says they can potentially step in to support the family financially with funeral arrangements. In general, she says the organization provides support by offering resources to families whose main breadwinner has been detained and are, as a result, going through a hard time.
OBTAIN A PRIVATE AUTOPSY
A private autopsy can be requested by a lawyer, but it can also be requested by individual families. A second opinion on an autopsy can be crucial when it comes to in-custody deaths, says Gastélum. Private autopsies can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000, according to Chavez.
Gastélum notes that families who are not able to afford an autopsy can apply for support from Know Your Rights Camp, which can provide financial support if the decedent was involved in an in-custody or suspicious death.
REQUEST DETENTION RECORDS
If your loved one dies after being held in immigration detention or inside of immigration detention, you have the right to view government records of detention, including medical records. If the individual was taken to a hospital outside of the facility, records can be requested from the hospital. Medical records must be requested by the next of kin, Chavez explains.
A lawyer can help loved ones navigate the request process, but families can also file on their own. This can be done by contacting the facility and requesting the files directly or by filing a public records request under the Federal Freedom of Information Act. For more information on how to file for detention records, see this guide created by the American Immigration Council and Black Alliance for Just Immigration.
CANVASS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Canvassing the area where the incident occurred can yield important evidence. While lawyers typically handle this, family or close friends can do this as well. Footage of the incident could have been captured by a Ring camera, a Google Home, or the security camera at an establishment like a gas station. This can be obtained while canvassing.
“I wanna get to it before law enforcement gets to it, because when they get the file, they delete it from the homeowner's system,” says Gastélum.
Within 24 hours of an incident, Gastélum knocks on doors within a three-block radius.
“We will go out and do our own investigation, and sure enough, you will find all these other videos and things that directly disprove what the U.S. government is saying,” says Simon.
CONTACT THE FOREIGN CONSULATE
Consulates of foreign countries in the U.S. often provide legal support and financial assistance for funeral-related expenses. The Consulate of Mexico in San Bernardino shared a release with L.A. TACO regarding the protection of Mexicans in ICE Custody that reads:
“Mexico will continue using all available consular, legal, diplomatic, and international mechanisms to protect their rights, dignity, and due process.
“The government will continue standing with affected families, providing legal and humanitarian assistance, financial support, and help with the repatriation of remains, while following each case through the appropriate U.S. legal channels.”
The consulate tells L.A. TACO that the Mexican government has provided $24,788 in assistance to families, primarily to help repatriate remains. It will continue to maintain a permanent presence in detention centers.
