The number of ICE detainees exceeded 70,000 for the first time in the deportation agency's 23-year history, according to internal DHS data obtained by CBS News.
… No prior administration had ever held an average of more than 50,200 people per day in immigration detention (in FY 2019, during Trump’s first term). As of September, detainees spent an average of 44 days in immigration detention, with each detention averaging $152 per day.
Conservatively I’d say we’re paying private companies over $3.5 million every day to house them.
$47/day.
That’s gotta be way way way too low?
Median for state prison is 60,989 which is $167. This would be cheaper but seems like mega conservative
In September 2025 they reported an average detention cost of $152 per day. So closer to 11M a day.
Who? ICE?
Mine wasn’t ICE specific. If you got a source where ICE says that I’d love to see it.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/trump-immigrant-detention
Thanks, much appreciated.
Actually, based on how some Minneapolis detainees described the holding cells, I would believe $47/day.
edit: Oops this reply was originally meant for someone else if you saw it. Still seems low, but I get where you’re coming from