ICE accidentally leaks identities of more than 6,000 asylum seekers on its website

More than 6,000 asylum seekers had their identities accidentally leaked on ICE's website, with details up for five hours before being taken down. 

The leak was discovered on Monday by Human Rights First, an advocacy group. 

They found that personal information including names, nationalities, detention centers where the people were held and unique numbers used to identify them in government records had been put online.

All detainees or their attorneys are going to be told of the leak, according to ICE. It will allow them to determine if it will affects the merits of their asylum claims.

The leak was discovered on Monday by Human Rights First, an advocacy group. They found that personal information including names, nationalities, detention centers where the people were held and unique numbers used to identify them in government records had been put online. Pictured: Migrants at Martha's Vineyard in September this year 

Human Rights First said that all 6,252 people who had their data posted had expressed fears that they would be persecuted if courts denied their bids to remain in the US and they were returned home.

The group's senior director for refugee protection, Eleanor Acer, said that she worried detainees or their families could be in danger in their home countries.  

Human Rights First said that all 6,252 people who had their data posted had expressed fears that they would be persecuted if courts denied their bids to remain in the US and they were returned home. Pictured: Migrants in August this year in California 

She said: 'In some countries people are targeted, retaliated against for seeking asylum.'  

ICE said that an Excel spreadsheet was 'erroneously' posted 'while performing routine updates.'

The agency deleted the information from its public website 11 minutes after being told.  

In a statement, it said: 'Though unintentional, this release of information is a breach of policy and the agency is investigating the incident and taking all corrective actions necessary.'