ICE Arrests 11,000 Migrants in First 18 Days of Trump Administration

The arrests mark a significant escalation in immigration enforcement, with new detention measures and resource challenges emerging.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained 11,000 undocumented immigrants in just 18 days under the Trump administration, a third of the total arrests made in all of 2024.
The arrests include individuals with criminal records, such as gang members, cartel affiliates, and child sex offenders, highlighting a focus on targeting violent offenders.
ICE is operating over capacity, with more than 41,000 people in custody, leading to plans to open additional detention facilities and expand capacity at Guantanamo Bay to house up to 30,000 detainees.
The administration is facing internal pressure to accelerate deportations, with daily arrest quotas and frustration from senior officials over unmet targets.
Resource limitations, including funding and detention space, have prompted ICE to request Congressional support and explore unconventional solutions like using military bases for temporary detentions.