As of the latest public data I found, ICE was holding 60,311 people in detention on April 4, 2026. Other 2026 reporting shows the daily detention population has also been much higher at points this year, reaching more than 73,400 on a single day in mid-January.

What that means

  • Best current single-point estimate: 60,311 people in ICE detention on April 4, 2026.
  • Recent peak: more than 73,400 people on a single day in mid-January 2026.
  • These figures can differ because different sources use different dates and update schedules.

Why numbers vary

ICE detention counts change daily as people are booked, transferred, released, or removed, so a headline number is always a snapshot rather than a fixed total. That is why one report may cite a monthly or quarterly figure while another cites a peak day.

Source note

The most direct public figure I found comes from TRAC’s ICE detention quick facts page, which listed 60,311 detained people as of April 4, 2026.