U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported a decrease in the average daily number of detainees to 58,000, according to sources familiar with the data. This decline follows a significant expansion of detention bed space, which was part of a $38 billion investment by ICE. The agency previously saw its detention population peak at nearly 72,000 migrants in January. ICE has not released official statistics since early April, when the population was just over 60,000.
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott stated that ICE currently has more capacity than detainees in custody. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin supported this claim, mentioning that the family detention center in Dilley, Texas, is not at capacity, negating the need for further expansion of detention facilities for children.
The current situation marks a shift from the beginning of President Trump's second term, when limited detention space constrained ICE's ability to make arrests. In the past, a lack of available detention space led to migrants being held in unsuitable locations such as office buildings and courthouses. Although arrests, detentions, and deportations remain higher than during President Biden's administration, they have not met the daily arrest goal of 3,000 set by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller.