Overview
- ICE held nearly 69,000 people on Jan. 7, 2026, a record high according to agency snapshot data.
- Detention of people with no U.S. criminal record jumped sharply in 2025, with their share rising from 6% in January to 41% in December after a reported 2,450% increase.
- The number of detention sites roughly doubled last year to about 212, expanding into county jails and tent facilities on military bases, with conversions of large warehouses under consideration.
- Administration directives to maximize detention and curb releases, along with limits on bond, have increased in-custody case processing, with more than fourteen deportations for every person released by November 2025.
- Deaths in ICE custody rose in 2025, with tallies ranging from 15 to 32 reported by different sources, as oversight capacity weakened and access for inspections narrowed.