Immigration and Customs Enforcement is ending a policy that required the agency to publicly report deaths occurring within 30 days of a person's release from custody, according to an internal memo sent to employees Thursday.

The memo, reviewed by The Washington Post, was issued by acting ICE Director David Venturella and outlines a change in how the agency reports deaths connected to those who have recently been detained.

"ICE is returning to the standard practice of reporting deaths that occur while an individual is in agency custody," Venturella wrote in the memo.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the change in policy to the Post, saying it is "common sense" that ICE should not be responsible for monitoring or reviews "when an individual passes away weeks after leaving their custody."

ICE "remains committed to transparency regarding detainee deaths," the spokesperson said. "This updated policy outlines procedures for timely notification, review and reporting of deaths occurring in ICE custody, including notifying next of kin, consulates, Congress and the public."

Under the revised policy, the agency will no longer be required to report deaths that occur after a detainee has been released, even if the death takes place within 30 days of leaving ICE custody.

The reporting requirement had been adopted as part of broader efforts to increase transparency surrounding detention conditions and the treatment of foreign nationals held by the agency.

By tracking deaths that occurred shortly after release, the policy provided a wider view of outcomes involving former detainees beyond the period of their direct confinement.

The memo did not provide a detailed explanation for the change, but Venturella characterized it as a return to ICE's previous reporting practices.

The shift comes as the Trump administration continues to reshape immigration enforcement policies and federal agency operations. ICE has been at the center of those efforts, with officials emphasizing expanded enforcement, increased detention capacity, and changes to internal procedures.

ICE routinely reports deaths that occur in detention and is required to notify Congress and the public when individuals die while being held by the agency. Those reports typically include information about the circumstances of the death, medical history, and reviews conducted by agency officials.

The new policy narrows the scope of deaths subject to public reporting by limiting disclosures to those that occur during detention.

It was not immediately clear when the reporting requirement for deaths occurring within 30 days of release was first implemented or how many such deaths had been disclosed under the policy. The change takes effect immediately, according to the memo.

ICE has not publicly announced the policy revision.

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