Story perspectives

ICE Custody Decreases 12% Amid Backlash and Local Opposition

4/13/2026

Center

ICE Detention Decline

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows a 12% decrease in custody numbers from January to March 2026, largely due to fewer detentions of non-criminals.
The decline followed public backlash against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics after the deaths of two U.S. citizens during an operation in Minnesota.
Despite the decline, the average daily detention remains high, with about 63,000 individuals detained in March.
Georgia communities oppose the establishment of new detention centers due to infrastructure concerns and safety issues.
Local officials express frustration over a lack of communication from the Department of Homeland Security regarding these plans.

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Trump's Immigration Surge

Under U.S. President Donald Trump, immigration arrests in Missouri have surged, detaining over 3,200 people from about 80 countries since January 2025.
Local law enforcement's cooperation with ICE raises concerns as detainees are arrested during routine traffic stops.
Critics say these practices disproportionately affect non-criminals, and many detainees lack legal representation.
The American Civil Liberties Union challenges ICE's policies at the Alligator Alcatraz facility, urging detainees to consult attorneys.

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ICE Detention Decline

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data shows a 12% decrease in custody numbers from January to March 2026, largely due to fewer detentions of non-criminals.
The decline followed public backlash against aggressive immigration enforcement tactics after the deaths of two U.S. citizens during an operation in Minnesota.
Despite the decline, the average daily detention remains high, with about 63,000 individuals detained in March.
Georgia communities oppose the establishment of new detention centers due to infrastructure concerns and safety issues.
Local officials express frustration over a lack of communication from the Department of Homeland Security regarding these plans.

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