ICE Detainee Dies by Suicide in Missouri Jail Amid Record High Custodial Suicides
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Brayan Rayo Garzon, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee, died by suicide on April 7, 2025, in a Missouri jail while isolated with COVID-19 symptoms. His death is part of a record number of suicides in ICE custody, with at least 10 occurring since January 2025. The detained population has increased by 50% to 60,000 during the second Trump administration.
Facts First
- Brayan Rayo Garzon died by suicide on April 7, 2025, in the Phelps County jail in Missouri.
- At least 10 male detainees have died by suicide since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025.
- Seven deaths since October are classified as suicides, the highest number for any fiscal year in ICE history.
- The detained population has increased by 50% to 60,000 during the second Trump administration.
- Nine of the 10 men who died by suicide were Hispanic from four different countries, with an average age of 32.
What Happened
Brayan Rayo Garzon, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee, died by suicide on April 7, 2025, in the Phelps County jail in Rolla, Missouri. He was in his fourth day of isolation while suffering from COVID-19 symptoms, including fevers and chills. Jail staff had forbidden Rayo from making nightly calls to his mother as a precaution to prevent the spread of illness. Rayo wrote handwritten notes in Spanish requesting to speak with his mother; a guard collected one note before Rayo was found unconscious in his cell within an hour. An autopsy determined his death was a suicide.
An Associated Press investigation found that at least 10 male detainees have died by suicide since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025. Since October, seven deaths have been classified as suicides, the highest number for any fiscal year in ICE history. Suicides account for nearly one-fifth of the 51 deaths in ICE custody since January 2025.
Why this Matters to You
This record number of deaths in government custody may signal a systemic issue that could affect anyone interacting with the immigration detention system. The findings highlight specific failures, such as Rayo's initial medical screening taking 35 hours, exceeding the ICE standard of 12 hours, and his scheduled mental health appointments being canceled twice by jail staff. These systemic problems could potentially impact the safety and rights of individuals detained for any reason.
What's Next
The documented violations and specific cases may lead to increased scrutiny of detention facilities. ICE inspectors documented 49 violations of detention standards at Camp East Montana in February, including failure to record required checks and unsecured tools. Investigations into individual deaths, like that of Geraldo Lunas Campos—whose death was ruled a homicide by a medical examiner—could result in policy changes or accountability measures. The replacement of the contractor Acquisition Logistics suggests some facilities are already undergoing changes.