ICE Detention Centers Face Overcrowding Crisis, Nearly Half of Detainees Lack Criminal Records

Washington D.C. - Immigrant detention centers operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are reportedly at 140% of their capacity, according to a recent report. The facilities currently house 59,000 detainees, despite having only 41,000 available beds, leading to severe overcrowding. Of particular note, federal statistics indicate that nearly half, or 47%, of the individuals currently detained by ICE lack a criminal record. This data challenges the narrative often associated with immigration enforcement, which frequently emphasizes the detention of individuals with criminal backgrounds. Furthermore, internal agency figures reveal that ICE has averaged approximately 1,200 daily arrests in June. This figure remains significantly below the 3,000 daily detentions that were a key promise during the campaign of former President Trump.