Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently detaining about 59,000 people in facilities across the United States, far exceeding the detention capacity authorized by Congress. Previously, federal officials said they are removing dangerous criminals, but newly obtained data doesn’t match that claim.
Many detainees have no criminal convictions
Although the Trump administration said it would focus on immigrants with criminal records, data tells a different story. Nearly 47% of people detained by ICE have no criminal record, and according to CBS News, fewer than 30% have been convicted of a crime.
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New ICE data shows that from Oct. 1 to May 31, migrants with violent convictions only made up 6% of ICE arrests.
ICE operates dozens of centers nationwide, holding individuals as they await immigration proceedings or deportation. CBS News reports that it has obtained internal government information showing a record-high number of detainees. According to the numbers, on June 23, ICE was over capacity by 140%.
Arrests inside the U.S. drive detention surge
ICE is now detaining about 59,000 people, a 50% increase from the roughly 39,000 held near the end of the Biden administration. The rise is largely driven by arrests within the interior of the U.S., not by transfers from the southern border, where illegal crossings have dropped to historic lows.
That marks a shift in enforcement strategy, focusing more on individuals already living in America. Interior enforcement has drawn criticism in the past for targeting long-time residents, often with families and deep community ties, such as meat-packing plants or farms.
Concern about increasing detainee population
Three national advocacy groups are calling on Congress to increase in-person oversight of immigration detention facilities as federal officials move to restrict access for lawmakers. The American Civil Liberties Union, Detention Watch Network and National Immigrant Justice Center released a guide Monday explaining how members of Congress can conduct official visits to ICE facilities across the country. The release comes as new federal data shows ICE is holding a record-high number of detainees.
The ACLU also raised concerns about a proposal backed by former President Donald Trump that would expand detention capacity to more than 100,000 beds and boost ICE’s budget by up to 13 times its current level.
Biden policy expands deportations and capacity
In 2024, ICE announced plans to expand deportation flights and detention capacity under the Biden administration’s new border policy, tied to a presidential proclamation. The goal was to expedite the removals of migrants without legal grounds to stay in the U.S., which meant increasing the space available to hold them. To do that, the agency modified existing contracts to add more beds across its detention network, totaling 41,500.
Immigration officials have ramped up daily arrests under the guidance of White House adviser Stephen Miller, with a target of 3,000 arrests per day. The increase would likely require more detention space, which federal authorities are actively exploring.
New facility planned in Florida as arrests rise
In Florida, officials are preparing to build a new facility in the Everglades, nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” The Department of Homeland Security says the state is receiving federal funding to support construction and preparation efforts.
