U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently detaining approximately 59,000 individuals across its facilities nationwide, potentially marking a record high amid the aggressive immigration enforcement strategies of the Trump administration, as indicated by internal government data acquired by CBS News.
As of June 23, ICE’s detention levels have reportedly surpassed 140% of its designated capacity, given that Congress allocated funding for only 41,500 detainee beds.
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The federal data reveals that nearly half — specifically, 47% — of those held by ICE do not possess any criminal record, and fewer than 30% have been convicted of offenses. This trend illustrates the broader implications of President Trump’s intensified measures against illegal immigration. While campaigning, Mr. Trump pledged to remove dangerous criminal migrants; however, officials within his administration have clarified that no undocumented individuals will be exempt from deportation.
ICE has the authority to detain individuals suspected of being in the U.S. unlawfully, as well as those whose legal status is under review for potential revocation due to criminal charges, while pursuing their deportation.
As the leading agency in executing Mr. Trump’s proposed mass deportation initiatives, ICE has attracted significant media attention recently due to its increasingly visible and assertive operations. High-profile raids conducted in workplaces and other venues within the Los Angeles area earlier this month sparked widespread protests, some of which turned violent. In response, President Trump mobilized National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to safeguard federal property and personnel.
According to internal agency statistics, ICE has averaged approximately 1,200 arrests per day throughout June, with some days exceeding 2,000 arrests. This rate is nearly double the daily average of 660 during the initial 100 days of President Trump’s second term; however, it remains considerably lower than the 3,000 daily arrests that top White House adviser Stephen Miller has indicated should be the target.
The current figure of 59,000 detainees surpasses the previous high of 55,000 recorded in 2019 during the first Trump administration, based on data compiled by researchers at Syracuse University. Historical analysis from the Marshall Project suggests that this number is unprecedented in the context of U.S. immigration detention history. Two former senior officials from ICE have stated they had never witnessed such a large detainee population.
Austin Kocher, a professor at Syracuse University specializing in U.S. immigration policy, remarked, “If ICE is indeed holding 59,000 immigrants in civil detention nationwide, this would represent the highest count on record that I am aware of.”
This current level of detention reflects a 50% increase compared to the final days of the Biden administration when approximately 39,000 individuals were detained. The rise is primarily attributed to ICE operations within the interior of the country rather than transfers from individuals who recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal crossings have diminished to historic lows.
Government figures indicate that over 70% of detainees were arrested within the U.S. interior, a significant increase from fewer than 40% during the Biden administration’s tenure.
ICE has managed to escalate its arrest rates through various methods, including large-scale operations supported by Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other federal law enforcement entities. Additionally, many individuals apprehended by ICE are picked up from local and state jails under a long-standing program targeting noncitizens with criminal backgrounds.
However, the Trump administration has significantly broadened the criteria for ICE detentions by reversing limitations previously imposed by earlier administrations that prioritized serious criminals and national security threats. The current administration also lifted a pause instituted during Biden’s presidency on immigration enforcement at workplaces, initiating raids at locations such as a meat processing facility in Nebraska and a horse racetrack in Louisiana.
It remains unclear how the Trump administration has expanded ICE’s detention capacity beyond the beds funded by Congress.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the conversion of certain military installations, such as Fort Bliss in Texas, into temporary immigration holding facilities; however, these plans have yet to materialize fully. Furthermore, the administration has requested billions in additional funding from Congress for ICE to augment detention capacities by tens of thousands of beds.
Recently, Florida state officials proposed constructing several immigration detention centers to assist the Trump administration’s efforts, including one located in the Everglades dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced that Florida would receive federal funding to establish these facilities.
Representatives from both DHS and ICE did not respond to inquiries regarding whether any detention facilities are exceeding their capacity limits.
