ICE's detainee population reaches 66,000, a new record high, statistics show
ICE's detainee population reaches 66,000, a new record high, statistics show
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ices-detainee-population-reaches-66000-a-new-record-high-statistics-show/
November 6, 2025 / 5:59 PM EST / CBS News
The number of detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody increased to 66,000 this week, setting a new record high as President Trump intensifies his crackdown on illegal immigration, according to internal Department of Homeland Security data obtained by CBS News.
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ICE's detainee population has ballooned by nearly 70% since Mr. Trump took office for a second time in January, when ICE was holding around 39,000 individuals in its detention system. .....................
.................... But, under the second Trump administration, that detention network has been supplemented by military installations and facilities i
n Republican-led states that have been converted into immigration holding sites.
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That capacity is expected to continue increasing, as ICE received $45 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act just to expand detention levels. Officials have talked about using the unprecedented infusion of funds to operate 100,000 detention beds.
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The internal Department of Homeland Security figures show just over half or around 33,000 of the individuals in ICE detention as of Thursday morning did not have criminal charges or convictions and were being held solely because of civil immigration violations. ICE calls them "immigration violators." The other half, nearly 33,000 detainees, had criminal charges or convictions, according to the data. ....................