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ICE Faces Space Constraints Amid Rising Arrests of Illegal Immigrants Under Trump
Although Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reported an increase in illegal immigrant arrests under President Donald Trump, the agency is now struggling with limited space to detain criminal migrants.
"It has lofty goals with big numbers, and there’s definitely no lack of effort to achieve them, but it’s facing practical challenges," Héctor Quirog, an immigration attorney with the Quiroga Law Office in Spokane, Washington, told Fox News Digital.
"First, we have issues with the number of detention centers and available beds," he explained. "Like it or not, some individuals must wait for their hearings, and they need somewhere to stay. We’re facing capacity issues."
NEW REPORT REVEALS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT POPULATION HIT NEW HIGH DURING BIDEN-ERA CRISIS
Since President Trump resumed office on January 20, ICE has significantly intensified enforcement operations.
On January 23, ICE conducted coordinated raids across major U.S. cities, detaining 538 individuals. Subsequent operations have maintained a high tempo; for example, on January 29, ICE arrested 956 individuals, marking the highest daily arrest count under the Trump administration.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOUTS 969 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTS IN ONE DAY: ‘HERE ARE SOME OF THE WORST’
In the first month of President Trump’s second term, approximately 8,276 individuals were arrested by immigration officers.
Congress allocated funding for ICE to maintain 41,500 detention beds in FY 2024, costing around $3.4 billion annually.
In its December 2024 annual report, ICE stated it has "relatively static bedspace," forcing the agency to "carefully prioritize whom it detains."
"You have to set priorities," Quirog said. "Who do I hold, and who do I release? Ideally, we’d hold individuals with criminal records, while others could be released with ankle monitors or required to check in regularly."
"Detention space and who we detain are practical issues the administration must address quickly if it wants to meet the numbers promised during the campaign," he added.
Guantánamo Bay Tents Remain Unused Despite Space Constraints
In response to ongoing space limitations, officials set up tents at the U.S. Naval Station in Guantánamo Bay. However, two U.S. defense officials told Fox News that none of the 195 beds prepared have been used to house migrants, as they do not meet ICE standards.
As of Wednesday, only 20 migrants were being held at the base. Sixteen "high-threat illegal aliens" are detained at Camp 6, part of the base’s detention facility, while four migrants are held at a backup facility due to the inadequacy of the tents.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and ICE have not responded to inquiries about the criteria used to classify migrants as "high threat."
TRUMP’S PLAN TO HOUSE MIGRANTS AT GUANTÁNAMO BAY FACING MAJOR HURDLES
Additional Funding and Priorities
ICE has requested an additional $3 billion to accommodate 60,000 more detention beds. This need is partly driven by the passage of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates DHS to detain illegal immigrants arrested for theft-related crimes.
"Since the Laken Riley Act requires ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) to immediately detain these individuals, ERO would need at least 64,000 additional detention beds," ICE stated in response to questions from Rep. Mike Collins, R-Ga.
In Congress, Republicans are preparing to make significant funding changes through the budget reconciliation process. Border security and interior enforcement are expected to be top priorities, given their prominence in the 2024 election.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE, DHS, and the White House for comment.
Fox News’ Liz Friden and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
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