Newly released data has revealed that the number of individuals held in immigration detention in the United States has reached an unprecedented peak. The figures, published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), show a significant escalation in enforcement activity under the current administration.
Record-Breaking Detention Numbers
As of 14 December 2025, ICE held more than 68,400 people in its detention facilities. This staggering figure represents a new all-time high, breaking a previous record set just weeks earlier at the beginning of December. The data, which is updated fortnightly, underscores a rapid and sustained increase in the scale of US immigration detention.
The Guardian has been tracking ICE's enforcement statistics, with the latest published report covering the period from 1 October through to 14 December 2025. Their analysis calculates that since January 2025, the administration has arrested more than 328,000 people and deported nearly 327,000.
Shift in Enforcement Priorities
One of the most notable findings from the data is a major shift in who is being detained. Despite official rhetoric focusing on apprehending "the worst of the worst" criminals, immigrants with no criminal record now constitute the largest group in US immigration detention. This marks a significant change in enforcement policy. It is crucial to note that being present in the US without documentation is a civil violation, not a criminal offence.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has taken steps to invalidate protections for many immigrants who are legally residing in the country, broadening the scope of those potentially subject to enforcement action.
On-the-Ground Enforcement in Focus
The aggressive enforcement policy was illustrated by a dramatic incident in Chicago, Illinois, on 17 December 2025. Federal agents were photographed smashing a car window while attempting to detain a man during an immigration raid. Such scenes have become emblematic of the administration's hardened approach.
Another photograph from 3 September 2025 shows a federal immigration officer detaining a migrant at an immigration court in New York, highlighting the pervasive nature of these operations across major US cities.
The combination of record detention numbers, the targeting of non-criminal immigrants, and high-profile enforcement actions signals a profound intensification of US immigration policy as 2025 draws to a close.
