National data, local stories: ICE detention in 2026

On January 6, 2026, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency expanded “Operation Metro Surge” in Minneapolis into “the largest immigration enforcement operation ever carried out” by sending over 2,000 agents to Minnesota.

Though ICE is required by law to publish weekly detention statistics, after publishing data on January 7th, no data was released again until February 2nd. This data provides the first look at changes in ICE detention patterns since the scaled up operation in Minneapolis.

As I wrote on Bluesky, during January the largest increase in ICE detainees was at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, now the only facility where ICE detains minors. There is currently a measles outbreak at this detention center, operated by the for-profit private prison company CoreCivic.

To better understand this data, I made a data exploration tool for comparing the February release (actually data from January 22, 2026) to the January release (actually data from December 26, 2025). While most data below is directly from ICE, facility locations, facility type definitions, and facility operators are collected from other sources.

ICE Detention Statistics

Facility State Type Operator Average Daily Detainees Detainees ∆ Detainees ∆% No Threat % Non-Criminal % Mandatory % ALOS ALOS ∆% Level A Level A ∆ Level B Level B ∆ Level C Level C ∆ Level D Level D ∆ Male Crim Male Crim ∆ Male Non-Crim Male Non-Crim ∆ Female Crim Female Crim ∆ Female Non-Crim Female Non-Crim ∆ Threat Lvl 1 Threat Lvl 1 ∆ Threat Lvl 2 Threat Lvl 2 ∆ Threat Lvl 3 Threat Lvl 3 ∆ No Threat Lvl No Threat Lvl ∆ Pop/Guaranteed Min

Geographic View

National data, local issues, human stories

While working with ICE data, I often searched Google for the name of a facility to verify its location or operator. I found it remarkable, though not surprising, how these searches also immediately brought news about poor prison conditions, inhumane treatment, difficulty accessing attorneys, and use-of-force incidents. What would stand out if these articles were gathered together into the same place? Below, I’ve included links to several recent articles about each of the detention centers with more than 100 daily detainees, as well as all privately operated facilities.

It’s clear that some of these detention centers are worse than others, or at least have more reporting about their conditions than others. The ERO El Paso Camp East Montana (privately operated by Acquisition Logistics, which has no experience running prisons) in Texas, the Richwood Correctional Center (privately operated by LaSalle Corrections) in Louisiana, the California City Immigration Processing Center (privately operated by CoreCivic), the Krome North Service Processing Center (privately operated by Akima Global Services) in Florida and the South Texas ICE Processing Center (privately operated by The GEO Group) are all among the detention centers with more reporting than I can list below.

In addition to these large private prisons, ICE also scatters detainees across an archipelago of smaller facilities, many operated by rural counties. The reporting on these smaller facilities is almost all the work of local outlets, often at the town or county scale. I am deeply concerned about the health of national media in the US, but reading these articles was a good reminder that there is so much local journalism that needs attention and support. The national-scale patterns of ICE detention are important but each facility is a local issue too.

I was also struck by just recent this is. Controversies over conversions of local lockups to ICE-contracted immigrant detention centers and heated community meetings just a few months ago. Following the news day-to-day, I sometimes lose the forest for the trees and feel as though this has always been happening. Certainly the private prison industry, and its deep tentacles into rural economies, is nothing new. But so many of these facilities in America’s detention network are genuinely new. For example, Delaney Hall Detention Facility in Newark, New Jersey, now one of the largest ICE detention centers in the country, opened just last year. In Oklahoma, a new detention center opened last month, planned to hold over 2,000 people. To say nothing of the warehouses that are currently being planned. This is now.

Other people and organizations have been doing great work tracking this, for longer than I have. Please see also:


ERO El Paso Camp East Montana

El Paso, TX · Private (Acquisition Logistics LLC) · 2,952 average daily detainees


Adams County Correctional Center

Natchez, MS · Private (CoreCivic) · 2,162 average daily detainees


Stewart Detention Center

Lumpkin, GA · Private (CoreCivic) · 2,011 average daily detainees


Adelanto ICE Processing Center

Adelanto, CA · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,807 average daily detainees


South Texas ICE Processing Center

Pearsall, TX · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,756 average daily detainees


Moshannon Valley Processing Center

Philipsburg, PA · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,655 average daily detainees


Winn Correctional Center

Winnfield, LA · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 1,546 average daily detainees


Otay Mesa Detention Center

San Diego, CA · Private (CoreCivic) · 1,487 average daily detainees


North Lake Correctional Facility

Baldwin, MI · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,413 average daily detainees


Northwest ICE Processsing Center

Tacoma, WA · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,380 average daily detainees


Florida Soft-Sided Facility

Ochopee, FL · Government (Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)) · 1,341 average daily detainees


Eloy Federal Contract Facility

Eloy, AZ · Private (CoreCivic) · 1,332 average daily detainees


Port Isabel SPC

Los Fresnos, TX · Private (Akima Global Services) · 1,274 average daily detainees


Montgomery ICE Processing Center

Conroe, TX · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,227 average daily detainees


Denver Contract Detention Facility

Aurora, CO · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,226 average daily detainees


Karnes County Immigration Processing Center

Karnes City, TX · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,199 average daily detainees


Jackson Parish Correctional Center

Jonesboro, LA · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 1,192 average daily detainees


Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center (CLIPC)

Jena, LA · Private (The GEO Group) · 1,172 average daily detainees


Richwood Correctional Center

Monroe, LA · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 1,084 average daily detainees


Bluebonnet Detention Facility

Anson, TX · Private (Management & Training Corporation (MTC)) · 1,044 average daily detainees


California City Immigration Processing Center

California City, CA · Private (CoreCivic) · 1,036 average daily detainees


South Louisiana ICE Processing Center

Basile, LA · Private (The GEO Group) · 978 average daily detainees


Prairieland Detention Center

Alvarado, TX · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 960 average daily detainees


Joe Corley Processing Center

Conroe, TX · Private (The GEO Group) · 942 average daily detainees


Folkston D Ray ICE Processing Ctr

Folkston, GA · Private (The GEO Group) · 942 average daily detainees


El Valle Detention Facility

Raymondville, TX · Private (Management & Training Corporation (MTC)) · 941 average daily detainees


Delaney Hall Detention Facility

Newark, NJ · Private (The GEO Group) · 905 average daily detainees


Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center

Pine Prairie, LA · Private (The GEO Group) · 903 average daily detainees


Otero County Processing Center

Chaparral, NM · Private (Management & Training Corporation (MTC)) · 896 average daily detainees


Houston Contract Detention Facility

Houston, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 883 average daily detainees


IAH Secure Adult Detention Facility (Polk)

Livingston, TX · Private (Management & Training Corporation (MTC)) · 872 average daily detainees


Dilley Immigration Processing Center

Dilley, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 867 average daily detainees


Krome North Service Processing Center

Miami, FL · Private (Akima Global Services) · 866 average daily detainees


Baker Correctional Institution

Sanderson, FL · Government (Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM)) · 859 average daily detainees


El Paso Service Processing Center

El Paso, TX · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 805 average daily detainees


Buffalo Service Processing Center

Batavia, NY · Private (Akima Global Services) · 738 average daily detainees


Farmville Detention Center

Farmville, VA · Private (CoreCivic) · 714 average daily detainees


Folkston Main IPC

Folkston, GA · Private (The GEO Group) · 700 average daily detainees


Broward Transitional Center

Pompano Beach, FL · Private (The GEO Group) · 679 average daily detainees


Imperial Regional Detention Facility

Calexico, CA · Private (Management & Training Corporation (MTC)) · 674 average daily detainees


Rio Grande Detention Center

Laredo, TX · Private (The GEO Group) · 623 average daily detainees


Golden State Annex

McFarland, CA · Private (The GEO Group) · 620 average daily detainees


Cimmarron Corr Facility

Cushing, OK · Private (CoreCivic) · 588 average daily detainees


River Correctional Center

Ferriday, LA · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 586 average daily detainees


CCA, Florence Correctional Center

Florence, AZ · Private (CoreCivic) · 517 average daily detainees


Plymouth County Correctional Facility

Plymouth, MA · Government (Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department) · 506 average daily detainees


Eden Detention Ctr

Eden, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 476 average daily detainees


Glades County Detention Center

Moore Haven, FL · Government (Glades County Sheriff’s Office) · 468 average daily detainees


Miami Federal Detention

Miami, FL · Government (Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)) · 459 average daily detainees


T Don Hutto Detention Center

Taylor, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 458 average daily detainees


Nevada Southern Detention Center

Pahrump, NV · Private (CoreCivic) · 457 average daily detainees


Webb County Detention Center (CCA)

Laredo, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 443 average daily detainees


Alexandria Staging Facility

Alexandria, LA · Private (The GEO Group) · 413 average daily detainees


Desert View Annex

Adelanto, CA · Private (The GEO Group) · 411 average daily detainees


Miami Correctional Center

Bunkerhill, IN · Government (Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC)) · 405 average daily detainees


Mesa Verde ICE Processing Center

Bakersfield, CA · Private (The GEO Group) · 377 average daily detainees


Torrance/Estancia, NM

Estancia, NM · Private (CoreCivic) · 371 average daily detainees


Laredo Processing Center

Laredo, TX · Private (CoreCivic) · 368 average daily detainees


Butler County Jail

Hamilton, OH · Government (Butler County Sheriff’s Office) · 360 average daily detainees


Caroline Detention Facility

Bowling Green, VA · Government (Peumansend Creek Regional Jail Authority) · 344 average daily detainees


Florence Staging Facility

Florence, AZ · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 339 average daily detainees


San Luis Regional Detention Center

San Luis, AZ · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 337 average daily detainees


Florence Service Processing Center

Florence, AZ · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 330 average daily detainees


Elizabeth Contract Detention Facility

Elizabeth, NJ · Private (CoreCivic) · 305 average daily detainees


Baker County Sheriff Dept.

Macclenny, FL · Government (Baker County Sheriff’s Office) · 287 average daily detainees


Folkston Annex IPC

Folkston, GA · Private (The GEO Group) · 277 average daily detainees


Western Tennessee Detention Facility

Mason, TN · Private (CoreCivic) · 275 average daily detainees


Greene County Jail

Springfield, MO · Government (Greene County Sheriff’s Office) · 270 average daily detainees


La Salle County Regional Detention Center

Encinal, TX · Government (La Salle County Sheriff’s Office) · 255 average daily detainees


Limestone County Detention Center

Groesbeck, TX · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 254 average daily detainees


Pike County Jail

Lords Valley, PA · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 241 average daily detainees


Clay County Justice Center

Brazil, IN · Government (Clay County Sheriff’s Office) · 238 average daily detainees


Cibola County Correctional Center

Milan, NM · Private (CoreCivic) · 231 average daily detainees


Northeast Ohio Correctional Center

Youngstown, OH · Private (CoreCivic) · 208 average daily detainees


Berlin Fed. Corr. Inst.

Berlin, NH · Government (Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)) · 202 average daily detainees


Boone County Jail

Burlington, KY · Government (Boone County (county-operated)) · 201 average daily detainees


Louisiana ICE Processing

Angola, LA · Government (Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections) · 180 average daily detainees


Calhoun County Correctional Center

Battle Creek, MI · Government (Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office) · 173 average daily detainees


Orange County Jail (NY)

Goshen, NY · Government (Orange County Sheriff’s Office (NY)) · 166 average daily detainees


Hopkins County Jail

Madisonville, KY · Government (Hopkins County (county-operated)) · 164 average daily detainees


Kay Co Justice Facility

Newkirk, OK · Government (Kay County Sheriff’s Office) · 158 average daily detainees


Grayson County Jail

Leitchfield, KY · Government (Grayson County (county-operated)) · 158 average daily detainees


Allen Parish Public Safety Complex

Oberlin, LA · Government (Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office) · 150 average daily detainees


Strafford County Corrections

Dover, NH · Government (Strafford County Department of Corrections) · 146 average daily detainees


Campbell County Detention Center

Newport, KY · Government (Campbell County (county-operated)) · 140 average daily detainees


Irwin County Detention Center

Ocilla, GA · Private (LaSalle Corrections) · 128 average daily detainees


Oldham County Detention Center

La Grange, KY · Government (Oldham County (county-operated)) · 128 average daily detainees


Monroe County Detention-Dorm

Monroe, MI · Government (Monroe County Sheriff’s Office) · 125 average daily detainees


Wyatt Detention Center

Central Falls, RI · Government (Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation (CFDFC)) · 114 average daily detainees


Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff/Jail

Ste. Genevieve, MO · Government (Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff’s Office) · 114 average daily detainees


Chase County Jail

Cottonwood Fall, KS · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 113 average daily detainees


Kandiyohi County Jail

Willmar, MN · Government (Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office) · 112 average daily detainees


Brooklyn MDC

Brooklyn, NY · Government (Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)) · 111 average daily detainees


Kenton County Jail

Covington, KY · Government (Kenton County (county-operated)) · 109 average daily detainees


FCI Atlanta

Atlanta, GA · Government (Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)) · 107 average daily detainees


Sherburne County Jail

Elk River, MN · Government (Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office) · 102 average daily detainees


Christian County Jail

Hopkinsville, KY · Government (Christian County (county-operated)) · 101 average daily detainees


McCook Detention Center

McCook, NE · Government (Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS)) · 77 average daily detainees


Diamondback Corr Facility

Watonga, OK · Private (CoreCivic) · 64 average daily detainees


Miami Staging Facility

Miami, FL · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 20 average daily detainees


San Diego District Staging

San Diego, CA · Government (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) · 11 average daily detainees