According to internal government data obtained by CBS News, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently holding approximately 59,000 detainees in facilities nationwide, marking a potential record high. The Trump administration has significantly increased immigration arrests across the country, pushing ICE’s detention levels to over 140% capacity based on the allocated 41,500 detainee beds from Congress.
The data reveals that nearly half of those detained by ICE, about 47%, do not have a criminal record, and less than 30% have been convicted of crimes. This reflects the broader enforcement strategy of President Trump’s administration to crack down on illegal immigration. While the administration has emphasized expelling dangerous criminal migrants, officials have maintained that all undocumented individuals in the U.S. are subject to deportation.
ICE has the authority to detain immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally, as well as those whose legal status is under review, including cases involving criminal offenses. As the agency spearheads the administration’s efforts to enforce mass deportations, ICE has attracted attention for its visible and aggressive operations in recent weeks. High-profile ICE actions in the Los Angeles area led to protests and some instances of violence, prompting the deployment of National Guard troops and U.S. Marines to safeguard federal personnel and property.
In June, ICE has averaged around 1,200 daily arrests, with spikes exceeding 2,000 on certain days. While this represents a significant increase from earlier in the administration, it falls short of the daily arrest goal advocated by White House adviser Stephen Miller.
The current detainee population of 59,000 surpasses the previous peak in 2019, making it the highest in U.S. immigration detention history. The increase, up 50% from the end of the Biden administration, is largely attributed to ICE arrests within the country rather than at the U.S.-Mexico border, where illegal crossings have decreased significantly.
Over 70% of detainees in ICE custody were apprehended in the U.S. interior, contrasting with the numbers at the border during the previous administration. ICE has expanded its arrest activities through various measures, including collaborative efforts with other agencies like Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
ICE and other federal law enforcement agencies often detain individuals, including inmates from local and state jails who have criminal records. Under the Trump administration, the criteria for ICE detention have expanded to include a wider range of individuals, moving away from the previous focus on serious criminals, national security threats, and recent arrivals. This administration has resumed immigration roundups at worksites and initiated arrest operations at various locations. Efforts have been made to increase ICE’s detention capacity, such as exploring the use of military bases as temporary holding centers and requesting additional funds from Congress. Florida officials have offered to build new immigration detention sites, with federal support, including one called “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades. ICE has acknowledged the need for more detention space due to the increased number of arrests. Concerns have been raised about the conditions in ICE detention facilities as the detainee population rapidly grows. Additionally, recent news about new images of the Milky Way and other galaxies has been released by the world’s largest telescope, while New York City Democrats are participating in a mayoral primary using ranked choice voting. President Trump has arrived for a NATO summit following his expressed frustrations with Israel and Iran.
