The number of individuals held in US immigration detention has reached an unprecedented peak, according to the latest figures from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Record-Breaking Detention Numbers
Data published on 17 December 2025 reveals that ICE held more than 68,400 people as of 14 December. This marks a new all-time high, surpassing the previous record set just weeks earlier at the start of the month. Since the current administration took office, its enforcement actions have led to the arrest of over 328,000 people and the deportation of nearly 327,000.
Despite official rhetoric focusing on removing criminals, the largest group within detention centres continues to be immigrants with no criminal record. This highlights a significant shift in enforcement priorities, as being undocumented in the US is a civil, not criminal, matter.
Resistance and Raids in Chicago
The aggressive policy is being met with grassroots resistance. As the mass deportation operation intensifies, communities are organising to obstruct raids and support affected families. This tension was visibly demonstrated during an immigration raid in Chicago, Illinois, on 17 December, where federal agents were photographed smashing a car window in an attempt to detain a man.
Trump Breaks Silence on Epstein Files
In other news, President Donald Trump has commented on the release of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump expressed concern that individuals who "innocently met" Epstein could suffer reputational damage. He notably extended sympathy to prominent Democrats facing scrutiny over their associations, including former President Bill Clinton.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has stated he will introduce a resolution to take legal action against the Justice Department over what he calls an incomplete release of the Epstein-related materials.
International Tensions Over Venezuela
The Trump administration is also escalating pressure on Venezuela. Following the US interception of a China-bound oil tanker off the Venezuelan coast, both China and Russia have pledged support for President Nicolás Maduro. China's foreign ministry condemned the seizure as a serious breach of international law. President Trump warned Maduro that "if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough."
In other developments:
- President Trump announced plans for a new "Trump-class" of US Navy warships.
- A Russian general was killed in a suspected assassination in Moscow, blamed on Ukrainian intelligence.
- Denmark and Greenland issued a joint statement defending their sovereignty after Trump appointed a special envoy to Greenland.
- A coalition of Democratic-led states sued to block the administration from defunding the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
As the year ends, Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank celebrated Christmas with public festivities for the first time in three years, a poignant moment amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
