ICE published new detention data today that brings the current population to a record-high of 68,990. Get the full breakdown below. Plus: ICE records first detention death of 2026.
So, we can cut a lot of wasteful government spending, preserve the peace, and protect everyone from criminals by eliminating 92% of the ICE detention population, 92 % of the detention centers, and 92% of the ICE budget. Reasonable demands to our Congressional representatives for the upcoming budget bill.
Thank you for this wonderful article. I was wondering if you had statistics or raw data regarding the number of arrests that ICE made through community arrests that lead to detention with a criminal record (violent and non violent separated out) as compared to the number of ICE detainees that were done through state prisons and local jail transfers. I am seeking this data to hopefully understand how "effective" ICE is at finding "illegal alien criminals" vs local and state law enforcement as ICE is supposed to be focusing on immigration related issues not criminal issues.
I would really greatly appreciate it if you could link the actual database where the data is coming from for the naysayers. Additionally, do you mean FY 2025 in the title? We’re only a week into 2026 so that value doesn’t mean too much yet. Thank you!!!
Author has no clue who these people are and why they fled their home country. Nor does anyone else which is why illegal immigration is a crime. We need to pass Lindsay Graham sanctuary city ban and rid this country of this plague once and for all. NYC is now 12 billion in debt and MN is probably looking at much more in corruption and fraud. We need to start prosecuting these Gov and Mayors for violating federal immigration law and medicaid fraud
(a)Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts Any alien who
(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or
(2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or
(3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact,
shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
Has anyone seen updated work assessing the cost/detainee/day? I'm especially curious about those in private detention, like CoreCivic facilities.
In 2022, when I last wrote about this topic, I remember the cost ranging from ~$150-$200 per person per day. I have to imagine that the costs have only gone up.
So, we can cut a lot of wasteful government spending, preserve the peace, and protect everyone from criminals by eliminating 92% of the ICE detention population, 92 % of the detention centers, and 92% of the ICE budget. Reasonable demands to our Congressional representatives for the upcoming budget bill.
Hi Austin,
Thank you for this wonderful article. I was wondering if you had statistics or raw data regarding the number of arrests that ICE made through community arrests that lead to detention with a criminal record (violent and non violent separated out) as compared to the number of ICE detainees that were done through state prisons and local jail transfers. I am seeking this data to hopefully understand how "effective" ICE is at finding "illegal alien criminals" vs local and state law enforcement as ICE is supposed to be focusing on immigration related issues not criminal issues.
I would really greatly appreciate it if you could link the actual database where the data is coming from for the naysayers. Additionally, do you mean FY 2025 in the title? We’re only a week into 2026 so that value doesn’t mean too much yet. Thank you!!!
Read the charts. The links to the data is right there at the bottom.
Yeah, the "Get data" link just points to a CSV but not the document that it was sourced from.
The federal fiscal year (FY) start October 1, so we are 3+ months into FY2026.
Author has no clue who these people are and why they fled their home country. Nor does anyone else which is why illegal immigration is a crime. We need to pass Lindsay Graham sanctuary city ban and rid this country of this plague once and for all. NYC is now 12 billion in debt and MN is probably looking at much more in corruption and fraud. We need to start prosecuting these Gov and Mayors for violating federal immigration law and medicaid fraud
8 U.S. Code § 1325 - Improper entry by alien
(a)Improper time or place; avoidance of examination or inspection; misrepresentation and concealment of facts Any alien who
(1) enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or
(2) eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers, or
(3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact,
shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both, and, for a subsequent commission of any such offense, be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
Has anyone seen updated work assessing the cost/detainee/day? I'm especially curious about those in private detention, like CoreCivic facilities.
In 2022, when I last wrote about this topic, I remember the cost ranging from ~$150-$200 per person per day. I have to imagine that the costs have only gone up.