Fact Check: ICE budget increasing by 20 times annually

Fact Check: "ICE budget increasing by 20 times annually"

What We Know

The claim that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) budget is increasing by 20 times annually is inaccurate. Recent legislative proposals, particularly under President Trump’s administration, have indeed allocated substantial funding to ICE, but the figures do not support a 20-fold increase. For instance, a recent budget bill allocates approximately $45 billion for immigration detention centers and $30 billion for hiring additional ICE personnel, which represents a 265% increase from previous budgets, not a 2000% increase as the claim suggests (NPR, American Immigration Council).

In fiscal year 2026, the proposed base budget for ICE is $11.29 billion, which is an increase from $10.4 billion in fiscal year 2025 (Snopes). This indicates a more modest increase rather than the exaggerated claim of a 20-fold rise.

Analysis

The assertion of a 20 times increase in the ICE budget appears to stem from a misunderstanding or misrepresentation of the actual budgetary changes. The $45 billion allocated for detention centers and the $30 billion for personnel hiring are substantial, but they do not equate to a 20-fold increase from any previous budget year.

For context, the ICE budget prior to these proposals was around $9.6 billion (Jacobin). If we consider the proposed budget of $27 billion as a result of the new allocations, this still does not approach a 20-fold increase. The increase is significant, but it is more accurately described as a threefold increase, which is a far cry from the claim of 20 times.

Furthermore, the sources of this claim need to be critically evaluated. The American Immigration Council and Brennan Center provide detailed analyses of the budget changes and their implications, highlighting the increase in funding without resorting to hyperbole (American Immigration Council, Brennan Center). In contrast, claims that lack specific citations or are based on anecdotal evidence should be approached with skepticism.

Conclusion

The claim that ICE's budget is increasing by 20 times annually is False. The actual budget increases, while significant, are nowhere near the magnitude suggested by the claim. The increase is approximately 265%, translating to a threefold increase rather than a twentyfold one. This discrepancy highlights the importance of verifying claims against reliable data and understanding the context of budgetary changes.