Results showed that ICE’s long-standing claims that detainers were “an essential tool” in immigration enforcement was not supported by the actual results of recent detainer use. Often, ICE did not follow through and take these individuals into custody and most targeted immigrants had not been convicted of any crime.

ICE recorded an immediate and sharp increase in detainers usage – daily detainers issued jumped by 72 percent. The average daily number issued during the first 29 days since Trump assumed the presidency rose to 654 compared to just 380 daily detainers issued during the same 29 days in 2024 under Biden. Usage grew to 715 daily detainers during the subsequent 29 days (through March 18, 2025).

Once a detainer was issued, however, ICE took immigrants into custody relatively infrequently, and thus far only 1.6 percent of the detainers ICE has issued have resulted in actual deportations.

Individuals with criminal convictions made up a surprisingly small number of those targeted by a detainer. Out of all detainers issued just 28 percent had any prior conviction. Where a conviction was recorded, it tended to be for a less serious offense. The most frequent conviction was for drunk driving, followed by “other traffic offenses.” Despite this administration’s rhetoric, out of thousands issued only 30 detainers were targeted at convicted rapists and just 65 at murderers.

Individuals from over 150 countries were targeted by detainers. No nationality appeared to have been a particular focus of these recent detainers.

Law enforcement agencies in every state received detainers during the initial days of the new Trump administration, although detainer numbers varied from just a single detainer sent to LEAs in Vermont and Alaska versus thousands sent to LEAs in more populous states. Texas received the largest number, followed by California. Florida and Georgia were in third and fourth place. When these four states are added together, they accounted for half of all detainers issued.

Houston, Texas topped the list of cities receiving the most detainers, followed by Miami, Florida. Phoenix, Arizona was in third place. Los Angeles, California fell to fourth place from first place during the previous Trump administration. The Texas cities of Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin were in fifth, sixth, and seventh place, respectively.

In general, Texas and Florida cities were more frequently targeted, while California cities fell in their rankings when these initial days of the Trump administration are compared with city rankings from the first Trump administration.