January 1, ICE Hits All-Time High With 66,000 Detainees

Wyatt’s Take

• ICE is holding a record 66,000 suspected illegal migrants.
• Most detained have criminal charges or convictions.
• The system is nearing its full holding capacity.

ICE has now detained 66,000 suspected illegal migrants, the highest number ever recorded. The previous record stood at 56,000 back in 2019.

This surge happened after the start of the new administration, when 39,000 were in custody and ICE’s max capacity runs close to 70,000 people.

“Seventy percent of illegal aliens ICE has arrested have criminal convictions or pending criminal charges just in the U.S,” says Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.

This doesn’t count those wanted for crimes in their home countries or flagged for terrorism and gang activity.

Not everyone locked up faces criminal charges, though. Over half are held for things like overstaying a visa, without any criminal conviction.

Our country’s immigration system is being pushed to the brink with numbers like these. How leaders respond will decide if neighborhoods remain secure and laws hold meaning.

Wyatt Matters

The heartland knows the value of safety and the rule of law. When laws are enforced fairly, communities feel stronger and families are more secure.

Read more