ICE operates 109% of its capacity and releases migrants in the middle of the mass of massive operations
The United States Immigration and Customs Control Office (ICEfor its acronym in English) has begun to free some migrants detained because the capacity of their detention system has exceeded the established limit, according to internal data of the National Security Department (DHS) obtained by CBS News. Until Tuesday morning, occupation in the detention centers of ICE It reached 109%, with about 42,000 people in custody despite having an official capacity of 38,521 beds in private prisons and local prisons.
According to CBS Newsmore than half of those detained by ICE They were initially arrested on the southern border. Only on Monday, the agency released approximately 160 migrants, a measure attributed to the lack of space and the operational and legal restrictions that have affected both republican and democrats administrations. Liberated migrants can be subjected to electronic monitoring by ankle devices.
ICE indicated in a statement sent to CBS News That the increase in detention operations has resulted in a greater number of arrests of “criminal foreigners”, which has generated a higher demand for capacity in detention centers. The agency said it is exploring various solutions, including collaboration with the Customs Office and Border Protection (CBP)local and state authorities, and the application for additional funds to Congress. Besides, ICE Check detainees files with final deportation orders to expedite your removal processes.
NBC News He informed that the release of some migrants arrested under the current administration of Donald Trump It has been registered in several locations in the country. From the assumption of the president, ICE It has intensified the raids throughout the national territory, with up to 1,000 arrests in a single day, a figure higher than the daily average of 312 arrests recorded in 2024 during the last year of government of government of Joe Biden.
The Trump government has eliminated restrictions imposed on the previous administration on who could stop ICEgranting the agency a broad mandate to arrest the majority of immigrants in an irregular situation, including those without criminal record. However, the deportation process can be extended for weeks or months due to bureaucratic processing and the lack of cooperation of some countries of origin. In certain cases, immigration judges give legal relief to detainees, which prevents their immediate expulsion.
In the absence of space in existing detention centers, ICE Plan significantly expand your capacity. An internal government memorandum cited by CBS News He indicated that the agency evaluates the opening of 14 new detention centers with capacity for 1,000 people each, in addition to four larger facilities with up to 10,000 beds each.
In addition to the construction of new centers, the government has resorted to other federal agencies to expand the ability to detention. The Department of Defense authorized the use of a base force base in Colorado to house detained migrants, while on Tuesday, the Guantanamo Naval Base received its first group of migratory detainees after the president’s order to convert the facilities into a Detention Center for Immigrants.
Reuters He reported that last weekend, Tom Homan, an advisor to the Trump administration in migratory policies, asked local sheriffs to collaborate with ICE to arrest and retain immigrants in an irregular situation. Besides, CBS News He informed that the administration evaluates the possibility of using tents camps, known as “flexible facilities”, similar to those that the border patrol has used to temporarily process migrants and minors on the southern border. However, these structures have security and operation challenges, since they were designed for short -term arrests and lack security measures comparable to the detention centers ICE.
While ICE Face overcrowding problems, border patrol facilities have available space. CBS News He pointed out that until Tuesday morning, CBP was in custody to less than 2,000 migrants, which represents approximately 9% of their detention capacity of 21,000 people. This is due to the decrease in irregular crosses on the border with Mexico, which are at its lowest level in five years. DHS data obtained by CBS News They indicate that in January, the Border Patrol processed about 30,000 people who irregularly entered the country, the lowest figure since May 2020.
