ICE detention facility overcrowding is also serious Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested about 30,000 immigrants across the U.S. last month, the highest number in the past five years, but deportations were relatively low at around 18,000. According to a report by NBC on the 10th, ICE arrested 30,000 immigrants in June.
This is the highest number since monthly arrest figures were released in November 2020. However, NBC reported that based on internal data, the number of immigrants deported last month was about 18,000, which is half the number of arrests. This number of deportations is even lower than that of the previous Barack Obama administration.
Since February, the Trump administration has been executing an average of 147,000 deportations per month, which is much lower than the average monthly deportation of 36,000 in 2013 during the Obama administration. This discrepancy between arrests and deportations has continued since the Trump administration took office.
According to ICE data, the Trump administration detained about 24,000 immigrants and deported 15,000 in May. Some argue that the reason for the lower number of arrests compared to deportations is that many immigrants who are not subject to deportation, such as refugees, were detained.
Immigration lawyers said, “Many of those arrested by ICE have pending applications for asylum and have received temporary stays of deportations from immigration judges.” The disparity between the number of arrests and the relatively low number of deportations is exacerbating overcrowding in ICE detention facilities.
Immigrants in ICE detention facilities have complained of inadequate hygiene, medical care, food, and bedding. However, Tricia McLaughlin, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security, refuted claims of overcrowding or poor conditions in ICE detention facilities, saying, “All detainees are provided with adequate food, medical care, and the opportunity to communicate with their families and advocates.”