U.S. Immigration Detention Facilities Operate at Full Capacity

U.S. immigration detention facilities have reached their maximum capacity, housing approximately 47,600 detainees, according to a senior official from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This information was disclosed during a recent briefing with reporters, where the official, who preferred to remain anonymous, mentioned that the Trump administration is actively seeking to increase the number of available beds.

Currently, ICE is funded to accommodate an average of 41,500 detainees. The agency is collaborating with various federal entities, including the U.S. Defense Department, U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Prisons, to expand its bed count. Discussions are underway with lawmakers to secure additional funding for detention facilities.

President Donald Trump has expressed his commitment to deporting a significant number of undocumented migrants, citing a need for stricter immigration enforcement following what he describes as high levels of illegal immigration during the Biden administration. Tom Homan, the administration's border czar, indicated in late 2024 that at least 100,000 beds would be necessary to support a large-scale deportation initiative.

Since the start of the Trump administration, ICE has intensified its enforcement actions, including the arrest of individuals for immigration violations, many of whom do not have any additional criminal charges. From January 20 to March 10, approximately 32,800 arrests were made by ICE, with 27% of those being individuals solely charged with immigration violations, according to the official.

In comparison, the Biden administration recorded a total of 113,400 arrests throughout the fiscal year 2024. While there has been an increase in ICE arrests recently, the initial deportation numbers under Trump have not yet met the averages seen during the Biden administration, as reported by various sources. It is noted that Biden's deportation figures were significantly influenced by the high number of migrants apprehended while attempting to cross the southern border, many of whom were swiftly deported or returned to Mexico.