Newly released federal data has revealed that the number of people held in US immigration detention has surged to an unprecedented level, setting a grim new record. The figures, published by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), show the agency was holding more than 68,400 individuals as of 14 December 2025.
Detention Numbers Break Records
This total marks a significant increase and breaks the previous record high set just at the beginning of the same month. The data, which is updated every two weeks, was analysed by The Guardian as part of its ongoing tracking of ICE's enforcement activities. The latest snapshot, published on 22 December, covers the period from 1 October through 14 December 2025.
According to the outlet's calculations, the administration's enforcement actions since January 2025 have been extensive. In total, more than 328,000 people have been arrested by immigration authorities, with nearly 327,000 individuals deported in the same timeframe.
Focus Shifts from 'Worst of the Worst'
One of the most notable shifts in policy highlighted by the data concerns who is being detained. Despite official rhetoric emphasising a focus on apprehending dangerous criminals, immigrants with no criminal record continue to constitute the largest group within the detention system. Being present in the US without authorisation is a civil violation, not a criminal offence.
Furthermore, the Trump administration has taken steps to roll back protections for many immigrants who are residing in the country legally, broadening the scope of enforcement. This policy direction is exemplified by aggressive operations, such as a raid in Chicago, Illinois, on 17 December 2025, where federal agents were photographed smashing a car window to detain a man.
Enforcement in Action
The incident in Chicago provides a stark visual representation of the intensified enforcement climate. The photograph, taken by Jim Vondruska for Reuters, shows the moment of confrontation during the immigration operation. Similarly, imagery from New York on 3 September 2025, captured by David Dee Delgado, shows a federal officer detaining a migrant outside an immigration court.
These scenes underscore the human impact of the policies driving the record detention numbers. As the data continues to be monitored, the trajectory suggests a sustained period of high immigration enforcement and detention, with significant implications for thousands of individuals and families.
