U.S. Increases Number of Migrant Detention Centers by 30% in Fiscal Year 2025

ICE expands detention facilities

49,000 migrants currently detained

Private prison contracts on the rise

The number of immigration detention centers in the United States has grown significantly during the first six months of fiscal year 2025.

According to an analysis by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has increased the number of facilities holding migrants by 30%.

In October 2024, at the start of the fiscal year, there were 111 detention centers housing migrants.

By April 2025, that number had risen to 144 facilities with at least one immigrant in custody.

ICE has significantly expanded its network of migrant detention centers

ICE expands detention facilities – Photo: Shutterstock

This increase aligns with ICE’s broader expansion strategy.

TRAC attributes the growth to new agreements between ICE and private prison corporations, as well as contracts with local law enforcement agencies.

The administration of President Donald Trump has strengthened its cooperation with companies such as CoreCivic and GEO Group.

Additionally, dozens of agreements have been signed with state and local agencies allowing for the detention of migrants in county jails and other facilities across the country.

Four of ICE’s detention facilities lead in number of migrants detained since October 2024.

Natchez, Mississippi: 2,168 migrants in custody

Lumpkin, Georgia: 1,717

Pearsall, Texas: 1,663

Winnfield, Louisiana: 1,522

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These four migrant detention centers alone account for over 10% of the nation’s average daily detained migrant population.

As of April 20, ICE had 49,184 migrants in custody.

Additionally, the agency was monitoring 184,342 migrants and families through the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program.

The most recent data was updated on April 18, 2025.

This reflects an escalation in immigration detention policies under the current administration.

What are your thoughts on the growing number of migrant detention centers in the United States?

SOURCE: EFE