ICE Detention Reaches 72,000 With 26 Deaths; Communities Mount Bipartisan Resistance to Mega-Facilities

ICE detention has expanded to approximately 72,000 detainees across 220+ facilities, with 26 deaths in custody since October — on track for the deadliest fiscal year since ICE's founding. DHS plans eight mega-centers (7,500-10,000 capacity each) and sixteen regional processing centers. Bipartisan community resistance has successfully blocked facilities in New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, and Arizona. A new NPR/PBS/Marist poll shows 65% of Americans believe ICE has 'gone too far' — an 11-point increase. Private prison operators GEO Group and CoreCivic reported combined $2B+ revenue with ICE awards up 45%.