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From CBS News: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is releasing some migrant detainees, in some cases dozens per day, as space in its detention system has exceeded maximum capacity amid a spike in arrests by the agency under President Trump, internal government statistics obtained by CBS News show.
On Tuesday morning, space inside ICE detention facilities was at 109% capacity, with the agency holding close to 42,000 migrant detainees, despite having, on paper, a 38,521-bed capacity in its network of for-profit prisons and county jails, according to the internal Department of Homeland Security data. More than half of those in ICE custody were initially arrested along the southern border, the figures show.
On Monday, ICE released roughly 160 migrants from its custody, the figures show, an indication that the Trump administration, faced with the same operational and legal challenges on immigration enforcement that have bedeviled Democratic and Republican presidents, is being forced to release some detainees. Those released can be fitted by ICE with ankle monitors, to track their movements.
“We are exploring every solution including working with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and our state and local law enforcement partners, asking Congress for increased funding, and scrutinizing case files to quickly remove criminal aliens with executable final orders of removal from Department of Justice immigration judges,” ICE toldCBS News in a statement.
BREAKING: ICE is now at 109% detention capacity and has been forced to release some illegal aliens from its custody – CBS News
Yesterday, they released roughly 160 illegals. They’re currently holding close to 42,000 illegals despite only having 38,521 beds in their detention… pic.twitter.com/2dCbrnWXop
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 4, 2025
Meanwhile, illegal crossings have plummeted since President Trump returned to the Oval Office.
Fox News reporter Bill Melugin pointed out that in December 2023, there were over 11,000 illegal aliens pouring across the border in a single day.
On Monday, there were only 446 apprehensions across 9 border sectors.
Again, lowest number of recorded illegal crossings I’ve ever seen.
446 across the southern border is unheard of.
There were 11,000+ in one day in December 2023.
Biden’s final week in office was averaging 1,200-1,400 per day.
And this has all been done via executive action. https://t.co/Zvy7bztQlb
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) February 4, 2025
NEWS — Amid President Trump’s immigration crackdown, ICE is quickly running out of space to detain the migrants it is arresting.
ICE detention space is now at 109% capacity, per internal DHS data obtained by CBS News. Some detainees are being released.https://t.co/W8VJPLscQu
— Camilo Montoya-Galvez (@camiloreports) February 4, 2025
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