Overview
- ICE held nearly 69,000 people on Jan. 7, 2026, up from fewer than 38,000 a year earlier, reflecting longer stays under policies that curb release.
- Detention sites grew from 107 to about 212 in 2025, including tent camps such as Camp East Montana and Florida’s state-run "Alligator Alcatraz."
- Congress authorized $45 billion to expand capacity, with one analysis estimating enough beds for roughly 135,000 people.
- Detention of people with no criminal record surged, with a reported 2,450% increase and the share rising from 6% in January to 41% by December 2025.
- At least four detainees have died in early 2026 after at least 30 deaths in 2025, and Mexico’s Atlanta consulate is seeking clarification on a Jan. 14 death in Georgia.