Recently, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University released the latest data on federal immigration detention and enforcement trends in the United States. As of January 25, 2026, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has detained over 70,000 individuals across the country, with more than 70% of them having no criminal conviction records.
Among the 70,766 individuals held in ICE detention facilities, 52,504 have not been convicted of a crime, accounting for approximately 74.2% of the total. For those with criminal records, some only have minor offenses, including traffic violations and non-violent crimes.
The data indicates that during the 2026 fiscal year, ICE heavily relied on detention facilities in Texas to house detainees. The ERO El Paso Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas, currently holds the largest number of detainees in the U.S., with an average daily population of around 2,952 individuals as of January 2026.
In December 2025, a total of 42,128 individuals were placed into the ICE detention system. Of these, ICE itself arrested 37,842 people, while the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested 4,286 individuals who were later transferred to the detention system.
Meanwhile, the Alternatives to Detention (ATD) program by ICE continues to expand. As of January 24, 2026, the program has electronically monitored or supervised 180,079 family members and individuals. The San Francisco area has the highest number of ATD cases in the country.
TRAC mentioned that their website features “TRACmeters,” real-time statistical tools tracking immigration arrest numbers, detainee populations, criminal prosecutions of immigrants, as well as the backlog and deportation decisions in immigration courts. By clicking on various data indicators, the public can access more detailed statistics via the “Quick Facts” page and follow links to obtain in-depth information.
The public can stay informed about the latest enforcement dynamics and policy changes through TRAC’s online immigration statistics tool.
On the political front, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on the 3rd that a federal immigration oversight initiative has been launched. Observers (volunteers) from her office will monitor and record federal immigration enforcement actions within the state of New York.
These observers will not interfere with law enforcement activities but will wear easily identifiable vests to document ICE operations. They are responsible for collecting records of ICE actions in New York to assist the Attorney General’s office in litigation when potential violations occur.
Letitia James also advised residents to submit videos and other materials related to ICE enforcement to her office.