Fact Check: The U.S. has a significant number of migrant detention facilities
What We Know
As of January 12, 2025, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported that it detained 39,703 adults in more than 100 facilities across the country. This figure represents the highest level of detention during the Biden administration, significantly surpassing the 14,195 adults detained at the end of the Trump administration, a number affected by COVID-19 health protocols (source-1). Throughout Biden's presidency, the number of detained immigrants generally increased, reaching 39,703 by the end of his term, which is more than two and a half times the number at the end of Trump's presidency (source-1).
ICE has historically concentrated its detention in specific facilities, with the twenty largest facilities housing 59% of the detained population on any given day. Notably, the Adams County Detention Center in Mississippi had the largest detainee population, with almost one in twenty individuals held by ICE detained there (source-1). Despite promises to close private detention facilities, the Biden administration's actions led to the continued operation of many for-profit facilities, which still hold the majority of detainees (source-1).
Analysis
The claim that the U.S. has a significant number of migrant detention facilities is supported by robust data from ICE, which has been consistently published and monitored. The reported increase in detention numbers during the Biden administration, coupled with the concentration of detainees in a limited number of facilities, underscores the scale of the issue (source-1).
The reliability of the sources is high, particularly the data from ICE, which is mandated by legislative requirements to publish detention statistics bi-monthly. However, there have been instances of erroneous data reporting, particularly early in the Biden administration (source-1). This raises some concerns about the accuracy of the data, but the overall trend of increasing detention numbers is clear and corroborated by multiple reports.
Additionally, the significant reliance on private detention facilities, where 86% of ICE detainees are held, indicates a systemic issue within the U.S. immigration detention framework (source-1). This reliance on for-profit entities can introduce biases in how detention policies are implemented and reported.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that the U.S. has a significant number of migrant detention facilities is substantiated by credible data from ICE, which shows a substantial increase in the number of detainees and the concentration of these individuals in a limited number of facilities. The evidence indicates that the U.S. immigration detention system is extensive and continues to operate at high capacity, particularly in private facilities.
