Immigration detention numbers have fallen to their lowest point since last fall, according to newly released data, published with a long delay that the Department of Homeland Security attributed to a partial government shutdown amid funding negotiations.
The data, released by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 9, offers a glimpse into the agency’s enforcement operations at a time of heightened public pressure following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens, a leadership shakeup, and a growing string of court losses.
Experts said it's still too early to say if the changes will hold, but pointed to a few possible explanations behind the early April drop.
According to ICE data, the number of people detained climbed to historic high levels since President Donald Trump took office in 2025. Even with the recent decline, it is still significantly higher than at any point during the Biden administration.
Trump campaigned for his second term with the promise of mass deportation, but that came with serious logistical challenges. As the number of people booked into detention each month climbed, the number of people removed did not keep the same pace, leading to more people held in the system.
