Number of people in ICE detention hits record high, data shows

ICE held more than 68,400 people as of 14 December, breaking previous high set at beginning of December

The number of people in immigration detention in the US has hit an all-time high according to data published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The data, which comes out every two weeks, shows that as of 14 December 2025, ICE held more than 68,400 people.

This many people in immigration detention is a new record, breaking the previous high set at the beginning of December.