The Immigration Docket

People held in ICE detention

66,232

people were held in ICE detention on Aug 4, 2026, about 2.3 times as many as in late 2022.

202320242025202628,036Peak 70,985 · Jan 14, 202664,865

Average people held per day, by month. ICE records obtained by the Deportation Data Project, through Aug 5, 2026. How we count

For example: Stewart · El Paso · GA · or browse all 218 on the map

What do you need?

Four things the numbers say

From ICE's own records, for people booked into detention between Oct 1, 2025 and Aug 5, 2026.

01 · Growth

Detention has more than doubled since 2022

Oct 202228,036
Jul 202664,865

On an average day in Jul 2026, 64,865 people were held, up from 28,036 in Oct 2022.

Average people held per day.

02 · Who is held

Most people had no criminal conviction

No conviction or charge 40% · Charge pending 30% · Convicted 29%

71% of the 366,080 people booked in had no criminal conviction. 40% had neither a conviction nor a pending charge.

Criminal history as recorded by ICE at book-in. Each person counted once.

03 · Moved around

Most people are held in more than one place

83% of people whose detention ended were moved between facilities, through 3 places on average. Half were held 17 days or less. 71% were deported.

People booked in Oct 1, 2025 – Aug 5, 2026 whose detention had ended.

04 · Deaths

38 people died in ICE custody in fiscal year 2026

FY 20198
FY 202021
FY 20215
FY 20223
FY 20234
FY 202412
FY 202524
FY 202638

The previous yearly high was 28, in fiscal year 2004, according to NPR's count of government data.

As reported by ICE, fiscal years 2019–2026 (Oct 1 – Sep 30). See every record →

Independent, free, and sourced

Built from ICE's own records and public reports. Every number links to how it was counted. Not affiliated with ICE, DHS or the Department of Justice, and not legal advice.