Immigrant Detention Beds May Be Maxed Out

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s promise to deport “millions and millions” of immigrants will hinge on securing money for detention centers. The Trump administration has not publicly said how many immigrant detention beds it needs to achieve its goals, or what the cost will be. However, an estimated 11.7 million people are living in the U.S. illegally. Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently has the budget to detain only about 41,000 people. Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the U.S. border with Mexico leverages the U.S. military to shore up mass deportations and provide “appropriate detention space.” The American Civil Liberties Union estimates that ICE is considering an expansion of immigrant detention space across at least eight states.