ICE Reaches All-Time High of 59,000 Immigrant Detainees, Nearly Half Without Criminal Records

According to exclusive data obtained by CBS News, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is overseeing the detention of approximately 59,000 individuals in various facilities nationwide. This number appears to set a historic record.

As of June 23, ICE's detention figures suggest that their operational capacity is exceeding its planned limits, operating over 140% of what Congress has approved.

Nearly 47% of those held in these detention centers lack any criminal charges, and less than a third have faced convictions. This broad approach reflects the Trump administration's intensified focus on curbing illegal immigration. Trump's campaign promises included the deportation of dangerous offenders, yet top officials indicate that any undocumented immigrant remains at risk of deportation.

ICE retains the authority to detain immigrants presumed to be illegally residing in the U.S. and those whose legal standing is under scrutiny, such as in criminal case reviews, as they await deportation procedures.

In recent weeks, ICE's prominence has surged due to increased visibility and controversial operations, notably in Los Angeles. These enforcement actions have incited public demonstrations, some of which turned violent, leading to the deployment of National Guard and Marines to secure federal assets.

Data indicates that ICE has achieved an average of 1,200 detentions daily for June, with arrests exceeding 2,000 on specific days. This is significantly higher than the initial months of Trump's second term yet remains below the 3,000 daily arrests as advocated by White House adviser Stephen Miller.

The current peak surpasses the 2019 record during Trump's first term, where ICE held a maximum of 55,000 individuals. This new high is recognized as the largest in U.S. immigration detention history by researchers.

Austin Kocher, a Syracuse University expert on the U.S. immigration system, acknowledged the unprecedented numbers, noting the historical significance of such high detention figures.

Detention levels have soared by 50% since late in the Biden administration, driven predominantly by arrests within the U.S., rather than new border crossings, which have diminished significantly.

Over 70% of those detained were arrested domestically, in stark contrast to under 40% at the closure of the Biden administration.

ICE's increased arrest rates are partially credited to large-scale operations bolstered by federal entities like the FBI and DEA. Many arrested have been sourced from state and local jails due to agreements targeting noncitizens with criminal histories.

The scope of who may be detained by ICE has been greatly expanded to include more low-level cases, overturning previous priorities focusing on serious crimes.

It remains unclear how the detention infrastructure has expanded beyond what Congress has funded, as neither DHS nor ICE has clarified whether some facilities exceed their capacity.

There have been discussions to convert military locations like Fort Bliss into temporary detention facilities. The administration has petitioned Congress for additional funding to increase ICE's holding capacity significantly.

Florida has offered to construct additional detention facilities, with one proposed site referred to as 'Alligator Alcatraz'.

Professor Kocher expressed concern over ICE's capacity to meet legal standards and maintain humane conditions, indicating that the administration has yet to prioritize these aspects of civil detention.

About the Reporter

Camilo Montoya-Galvez serves as an immigration correspondent for CBS News, contributing from Washington D.C., where he focuses on immigration and policy matters.