By Steve Neavling
The Department of Homeland Security says its immigrant detention centers are full, housing about 47,600 individuals.
DHS officials told reporters Wednesday that they are working with the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Defense, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons to expand bed space while pushing Congress for more funding, NBC News reports.
Some detainees are being released on a case-by-case basis through ICE’s Alternatives to Detention program, officials said, citing medical or humanitarian concerns.
Senior DHS and ICE officials also released new arrest data covering President Donald Trump’s first 50 days back in office. From Jan. 20 to March 10, ICE arrested 32,809 individuals, according to DHS data.
Of those, 14,111 had prior criminal convictions, 9,980 had pending charges, and 8,718 were detained for immigration-related violations.
“We expect these ICE arrests and removal numbers will only go up as we unleash an agency that has had its hands tied behind its back for the past four years,” said acting ICE Director Todd Lyons. “These ICE enforcement operations are not only removing criminals from the American communities, but they are also discouraging people from coming to our country illegally.”
Officials said ICE arrested 1,155 suspected gang members and 39 individuals flagged as known or suspected terrorists during the same period.
DHS did not say how many people have been deported under the new administration.
