Fact Check: Over 59,000 immigrants are detained, exceeding ICE's capacity by 140%.

Fact Check: "Over 59,000 immigrants are detained, exceeding ICE's capacity by 140%."

What We Know

As of June 23, 2025, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reported to be holding approximately 59,000 detainees, which is the highest number in U.S. history. This figure exceeds ICE's congressionally funded capacity of 41,500 beds by over 140% (Legislative Bulletin. The increase in detainees has been attributed to a significant expansion in enforcement operations, with many detainees lacking any criminal record; nearly 47% of those detained do not have a criminal history, and fewer than 30% have been convicted of crimes (CBS News).

Analysis

The claim that over 59,000 immigrants are detained, exceeding ICE's capacity by 140%, is supported by multiple reliable sources. The Legislative Bulletin provides a detailed account of the current detention numbers and the conditions within ICE facilities, highlighting overcrowding and inadequate resources for detainees (Legislative Bulletin. Additionally, CBS News corroborates these figures, noting that the current detention level is a significant increase from previous years, particularly from the last days of the Biden administration when the number was around 39,000 (CBS News).

The data presented by these sources is consistent with internal ICE statistics and reflects a broader trend of increased enforcement actions under the current administration. The credibility of these reports is strengthened by their alignment with historical data and expert commentary, such as that from Austin Kocher, a professor at Syracuse University, who confirmed that the 59,000 figure represents a record high for ICE detention (CBS News).

While some sources may have varying focuses—such as the conditions of detention or the demographics of detainees—the core fact regarding the number of detainees and the exceeding of ICE's capacity remains consistent across reports.

Conclusion

The claim that over 59,000 immigrants are detained, exceeding ICE's capacity by 140%, is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that the current number of detainees significantly surpasses the agency's operational capacity, reflecting a substantial increase in immigration enforcement activities.

Fact Check: Over 59,000 immigrants are detained, exceeding ICE's capacity by 140%.