The number of immigrants held in federal detention facilities has surpassed **65,000**, marking a significant increase since the administration of former President **Donald Trump**. This surge reflects a broader campaign focused on detaining and deporting individuals, according to immigration advocates and legal experts.
As of the latest figures, **65,135** immigrants are currently in custody, exceeding the previous threshold of **60,000**, which had briefly been surpassed in August before declining. This number represents a substantial rise from the **39,238** individuals detained when Trump took office in January **2017**. Legal experts, such as Philadelphia immigration attorney **Jonah Eaton**, emphasize the administration’s commitment to deportation, stating, “They are dead serious about moving as many people out of the country as possible, and keeping them detained while they do it.”
In August, a small group of protesters and faith leaders gathered for a prayer vigil near the **Moshannon Valley Processing Center** in Pennsylvania, opposing the for-profit prison corporation **GEO Group**, which operates the facility. The rising detention numbers have sparked concern among advocacy groups, highlighting the implications for families and communities.
The **Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)** has taken a leading role in these detentions, with **81%** of detainees now arrested by ICE, a significant increase from **38%** at the start of Trump’s term. While the administration claims to target “the worst of the worst”—criminal immigrants involved in serious offenses—data reveals that approximately **74%** of those detained have no criminal convictions.
According to **Cris Ramon**, an independent immigration consultant based in Washington, D.C., the current statistics raise questions about the future of detention policies under the current administration. “If the goal is to remove as many people as possible, they’re going to lean on detention centers to be first and foremost a staging ground,” he stated.
Many individuals in custody are subjected to “mandatory detention,” which prohibits them from seeking release on bond. The **National Immigration Law Center** has criticized the current policies, arguing they leave migrants with few options other than “death or deportation.” The administration’s approach has resulted in the detention of green-card applicants, asylum seekers, and others with pending legal cases—individuals who historically might not have been held in detention.
The widespread nature of immigration detention is underscored by the fact that ICE facilities are located across all **50 states**, as well as in **Guantanamo Bay**, **Puerto Rico**, **Guam**, and other U.S. territories. This expansion has led to a heightened need for detention space, reflecting the administration’s strategy to increase detentions as arrests rise.
**Carly Pérez Fernández**, communications director at **Detention Watch Network**, characterized the current state of detentions as a “grim reminder” of a broader plan targeting individuals based on their appearance and occupation. She highlighted the detrimental impact on communities, stating that these policies destabilize families and put lives at risk.
As the detention numbers continue to climb, the conversation surrounding immigration policy and enforcement remains urgent. Advocates and legal experts are closely monitoring the situation, concerned about the implications for both immigration law and the individuals affected by these policies. The current landscape signals a turning point in how immigration enforcement is conducted, with significant ramifications for many individuals and families navigating the system.
