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The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) expresses deep concern over newly released federal data showing that 70,766 individuals are currently held in ICE detention as of January 25, 2026. Even more troubling, 74.2% of these detainees—52,504 people—have no criminal conviction. Many of the remaining detainees were convicted only of minor infractions, including routine traffic violations.
These numbers point toward a deeply flawed detention system that continues to sweep thousands of non-criminal immigrants into custody, often separating families and destabilising communities across the country.According to data updated on January 22, 2026, Texas remains the epicentre of ICE detention, housing the largest number of detainees nationwide. During December 2025 alone, 42,128 people were booked into ICE detention—37,842 arrested by ICE and 4,286 by CBP.
NAPA notes with concern that ERO El Paso Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, has had the highest average daily population so far in FY 2026, at 2,952 detainees per day as of January. Such high concentrations of detainees raise serious questions about due process, facility conditions, and oversight.At the same time, the growing scale of electronic surveillance under ICE’s Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program cannot be ignored. As of January 24, 2026, the program is monitoring 180,079 families and individuals—a number larger than the population of many U.S. cities. San Francisco’s area office leads the nation in ATD enrollments, raising concerns about long-term digital monitoring and the lack of transparency in how data is collected and used.
NAPA urges lawmakers, human rights organisations, and federal agencies to take immediate steps to review enforcement practices and ensure accountability. Detention should never be used as a default tool against individuals who pose no threat.“We cannot allow a system to continue where tens of thousands of non-criminal individuals—many of them parents, workers, and long-time residents—are held behind bars or placed under invasive surveillance programs,” said Satnam Singh Chahal, Executive Director of NAPA. “These numbers reflect a crisis of policy, not a crisis of public safety. It is time for serious reform.”NAPA calls for national attention, congressional hearings, and community advocacy to demand humane and just treatment for immigrant families.