Actor Pedro Pascal has called for justice following the deaths of nine individuals linked to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations since early 2026. Using his platform, Pascal emphasized the urgent need for accountability regarding these fatalities, drawing attention to the continued human cost within the immigration detention system.
Profiles of the Nine Individuals Who Lost Their Lives
The nine people Pascal named represent a range of tragic circumstances. Among them was Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse working at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents on January 24 while attending a protest. His family remembered him as a compassionate caregiver devoted to the veterans he served.
Also from Minneapolis was Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, who was fatally shot by an ICE agent on January 7 after trying to drive away when federal authorities surrounded her vehicle. In Los Angeles, Keith Porter, aged 43, was shot on New Year’s Eve by an off-duty ICE agent. The Department of Homeland Security initially labeled him an “active shooter,” though Porter’s family disputes this, stating he was firing celebratory gunfire.
The remaining six deaths took place inside ICE detention centers. One of the most notable was Geraldo Lunas Campos, 55, whose death was ruled a homicide at a Texas facility. The El Paso County medical examiner reported the cause as asphyxia caused by neck and torso compression, highlighting the troubling nature of deaths in custody.
Rising Deaths Reflect Systemic Pressure on Detention Facilities
These recent fatalities form part of a broader pattern of rising deaths linked to ICE detention. In 2025, data from the Detention Watch Network revealed 31 deaths—marking the highest annual toll since 2004. Early 2026 saw an additional four deaths in facilities located in Texas, California, and Pennsylvania within just ten days.
This spike accompanies an expanding detained population, which ICE reports indicate reached over 68,000 adults by the end of December 2025. This number nearly doubled compared to approximately 36,000 detainees in December 2023, placing extraordinary strain on resources and oversight.
“Under the Trump administration’s massive expansion of the detention system, loss of life in ICE custody is truly staggering,”
explained Setareh Ghandehari, Advocacy Director at the Detention Watch Network, underscoring the ongoing challenges and risks faced by detainees.
Pedro Pascal’s Personal Connection to Immigration Issues
Pascal’s advocacy on this issue is deeply rooted in his own family history. Born in Santiago, Chile in 1975, he was an infant when his family fled the Pinochet dictatorship. Their escape included a period seeking asylum in Denmark before settling in the United States. This background informs his vocal defense of immigrant protections.
“I want people to be safe and protected. I want to live on the right side of history. I am an immigrant. My parents are refugees from Chile. We fled a dictatorship and I was privileged enough to grow up in the United States after asylum in Denmark. I stand by those protections, always.” – Pedro Pascal, Cannes Film Festival
His stance has helped galvanize activism in Hollywood, motivating peers such as singer Billie Eilish, who urged fellow celebrities to speak out, and actress Jamie Lee Curtis, who publicly highlighted the deaths with images captioned
“These were Americans! Shot by our government!”
At the Sundance Film Festival, stars like Natalie Portman and Olivia Wilde appeared wearing “ICE Out” pins, with Wilde condemning the ongoing violence.
“People are being murdered. It’s hideous,”
she stated candidly, reflecting the emotional weight surrounding these events.
The Families’ Voices and Calls for Transparency
For families of those who died, uncertainties persist. Victor Manuel Diaz’s brother Yorlan spoke out against the official narratives, rejecting suggestions of suicide and emphasizing Diaz’s pursuit of a better life. These personal accounts add to the call for clear investigations into each death.
Echoing this sentiment, Pascal’s message highlights the importance of resistance in the face of fear:
“Fear is the way they win. Keep fighting to be who you are.”
As the debate over ICE’s operations intensifies, his voice adds urgency to a broader demand for reform and justice.
With the number of deaths continuing to mount and public scrutiny increasing, ICE accountability remains a critical subject. The evolving situation will test America’s commitment to human rights within its immigration enforcement policies, with activists and families alike pushing for meaningful change.
Billie Eilish shares new Instagram stories regarding ICE:
“hey my fellow celebrities u gonna speak up? or” pic.twitter.com/8qjBsh0l3y
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 26, 2026
