Washington- The U.S. immigration detention system has expanded significantly over the past six months, with a 30% increase in the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities, according to newly released government data.
As of April 2025, 144 facilities across the country were detaining at least one individual under ICE custody—up from 111 facilities reported in October 2024. This marks a notable surge in the footprint of ICE’s detention operations, fueled by new agreements with private prison contractors and local law enforcement agencies.
The expansion includes partnerships with corporations such as CoreCivic and GeoGroup, as well as the signing of numerous 287(g) agreements allowing local jails to hold individuals on ICE’s behalf. These moves have enabled the agency to widen its detention reach across the United States.
Four facilities alone now account for more than ten percent of ICE’s total detained population, each averaging over 1,500 detainees per day:
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Adams County Detention Center in Natchez, Mississippi: 2,168 detainees
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Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia: 1,717 detainees
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South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas: 1,663 detainees
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Winn Correctional Center in Winnfield, Louisiana: 1,522 detainees
These centers are now among the most heavily used by ICE in Fiscal Year 2025.
According to data current as of April 20, 2025, ICE held a total of 49,184 individuals in detention, with 44.7% (21,997 people) having no criminal record. Many others were detained for minor offenses, including traffic violations.
Texas continues to lead the nation in the number of people held in ICE detention, underscoring the state’s central role in federal immigration enforcement. In March 2025 alone, 22,929 people were booked into ICE detention, with ICE making 19,125 arrests and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) contributing another 3,804.
While ICE’s detention operations have grown, its Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program has also reached a record high. As of April 18, 2025, the program was monitoring 184,342 families and individuals, with the San Francisco area office overseeing the largest ATD population in the country.
Immigrant rights advocates have raised concerns about the rapid growth of detention facilities and the high proportion of detainees with no criminal record. They argue that the expansion is both costly and inhumane, urging the federal government to rely more on community-based alternatives and reduce reliance on private contractors.