Where Individuals Enter ICE Custody:
State-by-State Details

On a typical work day Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) took 1,509 individuals into custody, according to the latest available ICE data from November and December 2012. During weekends, the volume of detentions decreased to an average of 471 people a day placed in ICE custody. This means that nearly 8,500 individuals were picked up across the country and detained by ICE during a typical week.[1] If activity levels continue at this pace, ICE will detain around 400,000 individuals during the current fiscal year.

This report focuses on where these individuals were first detained by ICE based on their initial custody locations. Seven out of every ten individuals were originally detained in states along the southwest border with Mexico. Three states head the list: Texas (37% of detainees), Arizona (17% of detainees) and California (15% of detainees). Florida and Georgia were the two non-border states with the most individuals detained by ICE, but weekly numbers for each of these states were much lower — between 200 and 250 ICE detainees out of 8,500 each week for the nation as a whole. Six additional states had the next highest levels of enforcement activity — New York, Louisiana, Virginia, Illinois, Washington and Colorado. For these states, between 100 and 200 individuals were picked up and detained by ICE in a typical week.

The following figures shed light on where individuals entered ICE custody in these states and across the rest of the country. These figures are based upon very current case-by-case ICE records — covering November and December 2012 — obtained by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University under the Freedom of Information Act. TRAC sought a great deal more data from ICE which it has not received. But even the limited data available at this point paints a portrait of recent ICE activity throughout the nation.

State-by-State Details

Table 1 provides a state-by-state breakdown of the total of 66,278 individuals who entered ICE custody during November and December of 2012. ICE has not yet released information on where these individuals were initially apprehended. State location is therefore based on where ICE recorded the person entered its custody. Presumably this location would for most situations be close to where the individual was arrested.

Table 1. State of Initial ICE Custody, November-December 2012
(click to open in separate window)
State Number Rank
Total 66,278
Texas 24,811 1
Arizona 11,373 2
California 10,230 3
Florida 1,931 4
Georgia 1,590 5
New York 1,171 6
Louisiana 1,055 7
Virginia 974 8
Illinois 966 9
Washington 908 10
Colorado 837 11
North Carolina 745 12
Pennsylvania 736 13
New Jersey 718 14
Nevada 591 15
Ohio 578 16
New Mexico 568 17
Oregon 464 18
Alabama 457 19
South Carolina 433 20
Minnesota 401 21
Michigan 396 22
Kentucky 362 23
Oklahoma 347 24
Missouri 345 25
Tennessee 331 26
Massachusetts 324 27
Utah 312 28
Maryland 303 29
Indiana 302 30
Iowa 210 31
Nebraska 209 32
Wisconsin 206 33
Kansas 147 34
Arkansas 146 35
Connecticut 139 36
Idaho 98 37
New Hampshire 91 38
West Virginia 64 39
South Dakota 62 40
Delaware 57 41
Hawaii 34 42
North Dakota 31 43
Wyoming 27 44
Maine 15 45
District of Columbia 9 46
Vermont 8 47
Alaska 6 48
Montana 6 48
Mississippi 0 50
Rhode Island 0 50
Other Locations:
Puerto Rico 129 -
Guam 15 -
Virgin Islands 6 -
Northern Mariana Is. 4 -
Almost every state showed some ICE activity. However, the number of individuals taken into ICE custody varied widely, depending on location. At one extreme was Texas, where 24,811 entered ICE custody — as noted earlier, accounting for more than one out of every three detainees in the country. At the other extreme were twelve states — in addition to the District of Columbia, Guam, Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands — that had around ten or fewer individuals per week who were detained. This added up in each state to fewer than 100 detainees over this two-month period. Alaska and Montana at the bottom end each had only six individuals placed in ICE custody during these two months. Two states — Rhode Island and Mississippi — recorded no detainees.[2]

Table 2 provides a more detailed listing by the specific initial ICE custody location organized by state. Many of these locations were temporary ICE holding facilities. Individuals were first processed at these locations and then deported, released, or transferred to more permanent detention facilities. Another report in this series is under preparation that will analyze how often these various outcomes occurred.

Table 2. Initial ICE Custody Location, November-December 2012
(click to open in separate window)
State ICE Initial Custody Location Number
Alabama BALDWIN COUNTY COR. CENTER 60
Alabama DEKALB COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 264
Alabama ETOWAH COUNTY JAIL (AL) 91
Alabama MONTGOMERY CITY JAIL 42
Alaska ANCHORAGE JAIL 4
Alaska FAIRBANKS CORR CTR 1
Alaska LEMON CREEK, JUNEAU,AK 1
Arizona APACHE CO. JAIL 13
Arizona AZ REM OP COORD CENTER (AROCC) 2
Arizona ELOY FEDERAL CONTRACT FAC 704
Arizona FLORENCE SPC 91
Arizona FLORENCE STAGING FACILITY 7,650
Arizona MARICOPA MEDICAL CENTER 2
Arizona NAVAJO COUNTY SHERIFF 11
Arizona NEW LEAF 1
Arizona PHOENIX DIST OFFICE 1,664
Arizona PIMA COUNTY JAIL 1
Arizona SOUTHWEST KEY CASA LIGHTHOUSE 18
Arizona SOUTHWEST KEY JUVENILE SH 25
Arizona SOUTHWEST KEY-GLENDALE 6
Arizona TUCSON INS HOLD ROOM 1,027
Arizona TUMBLEWEED - DESERT COVE 1
Arizona TUMBLEWEED CASA DE SUENOS-WILLETTA 1
Arizona TUMBLEWEED SHELTER 7
Arizona YAVAPAI COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 12
Arizona YUMA HOLDROOM 137
Arkansas LITTLE ROCK HOLD ROOM 6
Arkansas LONOKE POLICE DEPT DET.CTR 62
Arkansas MILLER COUNTY JAIL 23
Arkansas SEBASTIAN COUNTY DET CNT 55
California ADELANTO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 3
California BAKERFIELD HOLD 680
California BARRETT HONOR CAMP 1
California BEST WESTERN DRAGON GATE INN 3
California CALIFORNIA CITY CORECTIONS CENTER 21
California CONTRA COSTA CO JAIL/WEST 1
California CONTRA COSTA CO. JAIL 1
California CORR.CORP.OF AMERICA - SAN DIEGO 1,179
California CRITTENDON SERVICES 4
California DAVID & MARGARET HOME 1
California EL CENTRO SPC 238
California FRESNO HOLDROOM 460
California JAMES A MUSICK FACILITY 9
California LOMPOC FCI 89
California LOS ANGELES COUNTY JAIL-TWIN TOWER 248
California LOS CUST CASE 1,797
California SACRAMENTO COUNTY JAIL 7
California SACRAMENTO HOLD 312
California SAN BERNADINO HOLD ROOM 893
California SAN BERNARDINO CO. JAIL 2
California SAN DIEGO COUNTY JAIL 3
California SAN DIEGO MCC 6
California SANTA ANA CITY JAIL 2
California SANTA ANA DRO HOLDROOM 684
California SFR HOLD ROOM 1,023
California SND DISTRICT STAGING 1,857
California SNJ HOLD ROOM 180
California SOUTH BAY DETENT FACILITY 1
California SOUTHWEST KEY JUV -SANJOSE 15
California SOUTHWEST KEY LEMON GROVE 17
California SOUTHWEST KEYS JUV. FAC. 13
California STOCKTON STAGING FACILITY 179
California THEO LACY FACILITY 15
California VENTURA COUNTY JAIL 4
California VENTURA CUSTODY CASE 266
California WESTERN MEDICAL CENTER 2
California WHITE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 2
California YOLO CO. JUV. DET. 4
California YUBA COUNTY JAIL 8
Colorado ALAMOSA HOLDROOM 12
Colorado BRUSH HOLDROOM 44
Colorado CRAIG HOLDROOM 8
Colorado DENVER CONTRACT DET. FAC. 19
Colorado DENVER HOLD ROOM 487
Colorado DOUGLAS COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 3
Colorado DURANGO HOLDROOM 3
Colorado EL PASO COUNTY JAIL (CO) 48
Colorado FREMONT COUNTY JAIL, CO 1
Colorado GLENWOOD SPRINGS HOLDROOM 59
Colorado GRAND JUNCTION HOLDROOM 21
Colorado LA PLATA COUNTY JAIL 9
Colorado LARIMER COUNTY JAIL 3
Colorado LOVELAND HOLDROOM 23
Colorado MESA COUNTY JAIL 8
Colorado MOFFAT COUNTY JAIL 4
Colorado PUEBLO COUNTY JAIL 11
Colorado PUEBLO HOLDROOM 72
Colorado TELLER COUNTY JAIL 2
Connecticut HARTFORD OFFICE 139
Delaware DOVER HOLDROOM 57
District of Columbia ORR FOSTER CARE 9
Florida BAKER COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. 127
Florida BOYSTOWN 36
Florida COLLIER COUNTY SHERIFF 139
Florida COLUMBIA KENDAL HOSPITAL 1
Florida COMFORT SUITES HOTEL 2
Florida GLADES COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 23
Florida HIS HOUSE CHILDREN'S HOME 70
Florida KROME NORTH SPC 735
Florida KROME/MIAMI HUB 1
Florida MIAMI STAGING FACILITY 36
Florida ORANGE COUNTY JAIL 14
Florida ORLANDO HOLD ROOM 234
Florida PINELLAS COUNTY JAIL 12
Florida TAMPA HOLD ROOM 216
Florida WACKENHUT CORRECTIONS CORP 194
Florida WAKULLA COUNTY JAIL 91
Georgia ATLANTA DIST. HOLD RM 507
Georgia ATLANTA PRETRIAL DETN CTR 18
Georgia COBB COUNTY JAIL 96
Georgia HALL CO JAIL 96
Georgia IRWIN COUNTY SHERIFF 24
Georgia NORTH GEORGIA DETENTION CENTER 277
Georgia STEWART DETENTION CENTER 502
Georgia WHITFIELD COUNTY JAIL 70
Guam DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 1
Guam DEPT OF CORRECTIONS-HAGATNA 14
Hawaii HONOLULU FEDERAL DETENTION CENTER 34
Idaho ELMORE COUNTY JAIL 55
Idaho HAILE DET. CENTER 8
Idaho JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL 15
Idaho MINICASSIA DET. CENTER 19
Idaho TWIN FALLS COUNTY JAIL 1
Illinois BROADVIEW SERVICE STAGING 174
Illinois CHICAGO HOLD ROOM 188
Illinois ELGIN POLICE DEPT. JAIL 48
Illinois HEARTLAND INT CHILD CENTER-BEVERLY 2
Illinois JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL 10
Illinois JUVENILE FACILITY/HEARTLAND 312
Illinois MCHENRY COUNTY SHERIFF'S 32
Illinois ROCK ISLAND COUNTY JAIL 1
Illinois ROCK ISLAND HOLD ROOM 26
Illinois SANGAMON COUNTY JAIL 7
Illinois TRI-COUNTY JAIL 166
Indiana INDIANAPOLIS HOLD ROOM 185
Indiana MARION COUNTY JAIL 116
Indiana TERRE HAUTE USP 1
Iowa DES MOINES HOLD ROOM 4
Iowa HARDIN CO JAIL 20
Iowa LINN COUNTY JAIL 37
Iowa MARSHALL COUNTY JAIL 16
Iowa POLK COUNTY JAIL 69
Iowa POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY JAIL 6
Iowa SIOUX CITY HOLD ROOM 58
Kansas BUTLER COUNTY JAIL 15
Kansas CHASE COUNTY JAIL 57
Kansas RICE COUNTY DET CENTER 64
Kansas SHAWNEE COUNTY DEPT OF CORR. 7
Kansas WICHITA HOLDROOM 4
Kentucky BOONE COUNTY JAIL 250
Kentucky GRAYSON COUNTY DET. CENTER 99
Kentucky GRAYSON COUNTY JAIL, KY 13
Louisiana BASILE DETENTION CENTER 259
Louisiana JENA/LASALLE DETENTION FACILITY 439
Louisiana OAKDALE FED.DET.CENTER 23
Louisiana ST TAMMANY PARISH JAIL 232
Louisiana TENSAS PARISH DET. CNTR. 102
Maine CUMBERLAND COUNTY JAIL 3
Maine MAINE YOUTH CENTER - LONG CREEK 3
Maine PISCATAGUIS COUNTY JAIL 3
Maine PORTLAND, ME HOLDROOM 5
Maine YORK COUNTY JAIL 1
Maryland BAL D D & P 245
Maryland FREDERICK COUNTY DET. CEN 6
Maryland HOWARD COUNTY DET CNTR 2
Maryland WORCESTER CO. JAIL 50
Massachusetts BOSTON HOLDROOM 12
Massachusetts BRISTOL CNTY NDARTMOUTH 56
Massachusetts GREENFIELD HOUSE OF CORR. 23
Massachusetts NORFLK CNTY DEDHAM 1
Massachusetts PLYMOUTH COUNTY H.O.C. 121
Massachusetts SUFFOLK HOC SBAY 111
Michigan CALHOUN CO., BATTLE CR,MI 122
Michigan CHIPPEWA CO., SSM 2
Michigan DEARBORN POLICE DEPT. 99
Michigan KENT CO.,GRAND RAPIDS,MI 3
Michigan MONROE COUNTY DETENTION-MAIN 96
Michigan MUSKEGON COUNTY JAIL 1
Michigan ST. CLAIR COUNTY JAIL 73
Minnesota CARVER COUNTY JAIL 2
Minnesota FREEBORN COUNTY JAIL, MN 10
Minnesota NOBLES CO. JAIL 1
Minnesota RAMSEY ADC ANNEX, SPM 8
Minnesota SHERBURNE COUNTY JAIL 10
Minnesota US INS/DETENTION & DEPORTATION 370
Missouri CALDWELL COUNTY JAIL 112
Missouri CHRISTIAN CO SHERIFF DEPT 35
Missouri KANSAS CITY HOLDROOM 14
Missouri LINCOLN COUNTY SHERIFF'S 24
Missouri MISSISSIPPI COUNTY DETENTION CENTE 40
Missouri MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL 37
Missouri MORGAN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT 72
Missouri PLATTE COUNTY JAIL 4
Missouri SCOTT COUNTY JAIL 4
Missouri ST. LOUIS HOLDROOM 3
Montana CASCADE COUNTY JAIL, MT 2
Montana HILL COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER 1
Montana JEFFERSON COUNTY JAIL 1
Montana YELLOWSTONE COUNTY JAIL 2
Nebraska CASS COUNTY JAIL 52
Nebraska DAKOTA COUNTY JAIL 1
Nebraska DOUGLAS COUNTY CORRECTION 82
Nebraska GRAND ISLAND HOLD ROOM 3
Nebraska HALL COUNTY SHERIFF 45
Nebraska NORTH PLATTE HOLD ROOM 3
Nebraska OMAHA FO HOLD 14
Nebraska PHELPS COUNTY JAIL 9
Nevada HENDERSON DETENTION 55
Nevada LAS VEGAS HOLD ROOM 440
Nevada RENO HOLD ROOM 2
Nevada WASHOE COUNTY JAIL 94
New Hampshire MANCHESTER HOLDROOM 40
New Hampshire STRAFFORD CO. CORRECTION 51
New Jersey COUNTY OF UNION JUV DET CENTER 1
New Jersey DELANEY HALL DETENTION FACILITY 48
New Jersey ELIZABETH CONTRACT D.F. 170
New Jersey ESSEX COUNTY JAIL 449
New Jersey HUDSON COUNTY JAIL 31
New Jersey MONMOUTH COUNTY JAIL 1
New Jersey NEW/INS OS HOLD ROOM 18
New Mexico ALBUQUERQUE HOLD ROOM 453
New Mexico OTERO CO PROCESSING CENTER 1
New Mexico OTERO COUNTY DETENTION 4
New Mexico OTERO COUNTY PRISON FACILITY 110
New York ALBANY COUNTY JAIL 19
New York ALLEGANY COUNTY JAIL 13
New York BUFFALO HOLD ROOM 2
New York BUFFALO SPC 265
New York CAYUGA COUNTY JAIL 1
New York CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY JAIL 6
New York CHILDREN'S VILLAGE 42
New York CLINTON COUNTY JAIL 42
New York LINCOLN HALL 30
New York NASSAU CO CORREC CENTER 5
New York NYC FIELD OFFICE 97
New York ONEIDA COUNTY JAIL 2
New York ONONDAGA COUNTY JAIL 1
New York ONTARIO COUNTY JAIL 1
New York ORANGE COUNTY JAIL 46
New York STEUBEN COUNTY JAIL 1
New York VARICK STREET SPC 578
New York WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL 1
New York WAYNE COUNTY JAIL 19
North Carolina CHARLOTTE HOLD ROOM 100
North Carolina Cabarrus County Jail 15
North Carolina FAYETTEVILLE HOLD ROOM 1
North Carolina FORSYTH COUNTY JAIL 18
North Carolina GASTON COUNTY JAIL 16
North Carolina HENDERSON COUNTY DET. FAC. 148
North Carolina MECKLENBURG (NC) CO JAIL 73
North Carolina NEW HANOVER CO DET CENTER 40
North Carolina RALEIGH HOLD ROOM 234
North Carolina WAKE COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT. 100
North Dakota GRAND FORKS COUNTY CORREC 22
North Dakota GRAND FORKS HOLD ROOM 8
North Dakota MOUNTRAIL CO. JAIL, ND 1
Northern Mariana Isl SAIPAN DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS 4
Ohio BEDFORD HEIGHTS CITY 25
Ohio BUTLER COUNTY JAIL 183
Ohio GEAUGA COUNTY JAIL 216
Ohio MORROW CO. CORRECTIONAL FACILITY 104
Ohio SENECA COUNTY JAIL 50
Oklahoma GARVIN COUNTY JAIL 142
Oklahoma TULSA COUNTY JAIL 205
Oregon COLUMBIA COUNTY JAIL 10
Oregon COOS CO. JAIL 1
Oregon EUGENE HOLDROOM 57
Oregon JACKSON CO JAIL 16
Oregon JOSEPHINE CO. JAIL 6
Oregon MEDFORD SUB-OFFICE 22
Oregon MORRISON CENTER 12
Oregon NORTHERN OREGON CORR.FAC. 11
Oregon PORTLAND DISTRICT OFFICE 313
Oregon UMATILLA CO JAIL 16
Pennsylvania ALLEGHENY CO. JAIL 54
Pennsylvania BERKS COUNTY FAMILY SHELTER 71
Pennsylvania CAMBRIA COUNTY JAIL, PA 7
Pennsylvania CLINTON COUNTY CORR. FAC. 159
Pennsylvania ERIE COUNTY JAIL, PA 9
Pennsylvania LAWRENCE COUNTY JAIL 1
Pennsylvania MONTGOMERY CNTY JAIL, PA 19
Pennsylvania PHI DISTRICT OFFICE 203
Pennsylvania PIKE COUNTY JAIL 40
Pennsylvania YORK COUNTY JAIL, PA 173
Puerto Rico AIRPORT HOTEL, SAJ. 1
Puerto Rico DHS/ICE/DRO 108
Puerto Rico GUAYNABO MDC (SAN JUAN) 20
South Carolina CHARLESTON COUNTY CORRECT 221
South Carolina LEXINGTON COUNTY JAIL 87
South Carolina RAPID CITY HOLD ROOM 5
South Carolina YORK COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 120
South Dakota BROWN COUNTY JAIL 1
South Dakota SOUIX FALLS HOLD ROOM 61
Tennessee DAVIDSON CO. SHERIFF DEPT 198
Tennessee MEMPHIS HOLD ROOM 1
Tennessee WESTERN TENNESSEE DET. FAC. 132
Texas AUSTIN DRO HOLD ROOM 418
Texas BAPTIST CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES 92
Texas BAPTIST CHILD/FAMILY SVCS-BAYTOWN 83
Texas BEDFORD CITY JAIL 208
Texas BROOKS COUNTY JAIL (CONTRACT) 4,615
Texas CAMERON COUNTY JAIL 2
Texas CATHOLIC CHARITIES (HOU) 36
Texas CHILDREN'S CENTER INC. 15
Texas COASTAL BEND DET. FACILITY 185
Texas CORPUS CHRISTI FACILITY 65
Texas DALLAS F.O. HOLD 633
Texas DEPELCHIN CHILDREN'S CENTER 1
Texas EAST HIDALGO DETENTION CENTER 392
Texas EL PASO SPC 1,478
Texas EL PASO SPC JUVENILE 5
Texas EULESS CITY JAIL 322
Texas HARLINGEN HOLD ROOM 560
Texas HIDALGO COUNTY JAIL 1
Texas HOUSTON CONTRACT DET.FAC. 969
Texas HOUSTON FO HOLDROOM 1,441
Texas HUTTO CCA 2
Texas IES SHELTER 549
Texas JACK HARWELL DETENTION CENTER 1
Texas JOHNSON COUNTY JAIL 48
Texas KARNES COUNTY CIVIL DET. CENTER 77
Texas LA SALLE CO REGIONAL DET. CENTER 232
Texas LAREDO CONTRACT DET. FAC. 2,022
Texas LAREDO DETENTION CENTER HOLD ROOM 1,135
Texas LIMESTONE DET CENTER 2
Texas LOS FRESNOS HOLD ROOM 1,410
Texas LUBBOCK COUNTY JAIL 27
Texas LUTHERAN SOCIAL SEREVICES 32
Texas MIDLAND, TX ERO HOLDROOM 23
Texas MONTGOMERY COUNTY JAIL 37
Texas PDN HOLD ROOM 4
Texas PECOS HOLD ROOM 720
Texas POLK COUNTY JAIL 34
Texas PORT ISABEL SPC 2
Texas RANDALL COUNTY JAIL 92
Texas RIO GRANDE VALLEY STAGING 4,556
Texas ROLLING PLAINS DETENTION CENTER 288
Texas SAN ANTONIO DRO HOLD ROOM 417
Texas SOUTH TEXAS DETENTION COMPLEX 64
Texas SOUTH TEXAS/PEARSALL HOLD ROOM 54
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY - HOUSTON 36
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY CASA FRANKLIN 38
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY CASITA EL PASO 23
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY CONROE 85
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY HOUSTON-DOWNTOWN 50
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY PROG. (JUV) 80
Texas SOUTHWEST KEY-CASA BLANCA 49
Texas VAL VERDE DETENTION CENTER 863
Texas WACO DRO HOLD ROOM 237
Texas WEST TEXAS DETENTION FACILITY 1
Utah SALT LAKE COUNTY JAIL 2
Utah UTAH COUNTY JAIL 281
Utah WASHINGTON COUNTY JAIL 29
Vermont CHITTENDEN REG. COR. FACILITY 1
Vermont NORTHWEST STATE CORRECTIONAL CTR. 4
Vermont VT. DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS 3
Virgin Islands CHARLOTTE AMALIE HOLDROOM 6
Virginia FAIRFAX CO JAIL 1
Virginia HAMPTON ROADS REGIONAL JAIL 3
Virginia HARRISONBURG HOLD ROOM 7
Virginia ICA - FARMVILLE 1
Virginia NO. VA. JUVENILE DET 1
Virginia NORFOLK SUB-OFFICE HOLD 88
Virginia PRINCE WILLIAM 1
Virginia RAPP SEC CENTER 16
Virginia RICHMOND SUB-OFFICE HOLD 251
Virginia RIVERSIDE REG JAIL 1
Virginia ROANOKE CITY JAIL 3
Virginia ROANOKE COUNTY JAIL 1
Virginia ROCKINGHAM CO. JAIL 2
Virginia SHENANDOAH VALLEY JUVENILE CENTER 1
Virginia WASHINGTON FIELD OFFICE 597
Washington CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES 4
Washington NORTHWEST DET. CENTER 179
Washington PIONEER HUMAN SERVICES 11
Washington RED ROOF INN 1
Washington SEATAC FED.DET.CENTER 1
Washington SEATTLE FIELD OFFICE HOLD ROOM 364
Washington YAKIMA COUNTY 51
Washington YAKIMA SUB-OFFICE 275
Washington YOUTHCARE 22
West Virginia EASTERN REGIONAL JAIL 6
West Virginia SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL JAIL 58
Wisconsin DODGE COUNTY JAIL, JUNEAU 155
Wisconsin KENOSHA COUNTY JAIL 35
Wisconsin MILWAUKEE HOLDROOM 16
Wyoming CASPER HOLDROOM 4
Wyoming CHEYENNE HOLDROOM 4
Wyoming NATRONA COUNTY JAIL 8
Wyoming PLATTE COUNTY JAIL 9
Wyoming SWEETWATER COUNTY JAIL 1
Wyoming TETON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER 1

The Florence Staging Facility in Arizona was the initial custody location for the largest number of ICE detainees in the nation — 7,650. In second place was the Brooks County Jail in Falfurrias, Texas with 4,615. In third place was the Rio Grande Valley Staging Facility in Texas with 4,556. The Laredo Contract Detention Facility with 2,022 was in fourth place, followed by the San Diego District Staging Facility with 1,857 detainees. These five locations accounted for nearly one-third (31%) of the individuals who entered ICE custody.

Listed in Table 2 are the 392 separate locations recorded as the initial ICE custody facility during November and December 2012. However, fully half of all detainees in the country were first detained by ICE at just fourteen of these locations, each of which is located in either Arizona, California or Texas.

Detention Numbers Along the Southwest Border

Along the southwest border, ICE further divides the region into administrative docket control offices, or DCOs. Table 3 provides a breakdown of the location individuals were first placed in ICE custody according to the city where the ICE's administrative docket control office was located. The state shown was that of the actual detention location, since sometimes a DCO covers an area that crosses state lines.

Table 3. Southwest Border Area for Initial ICE Custody, November-December 2012
(click to open in separate window)
State ICE DCO Location* Number
Arizona Eloy 704
Arizona Florence 7,745
Arizona Phoenix 1,759
Arizona Tucson 1,028
Arizona Yuma 137
California Adelanto 3
California Bakersfield 701
California El Centro 239
California Fresno 460
California Los Angeles 2,063
California Sacramento 317
California San Bernardino 895
California San Diego 3,076
California San Francisco 1,041
California San Jose 185
California Santa Ana 712
California Stockton 187
California Ventura 351
New Mexico Albuquerque 453
New Mexico El Paso 112
New Mexico Otero County DRO 3
Texas Amarillo 92
Texas Austin 418
Texas Dallas 1,492
Texas Del Rio 863
Texas El Paso 1,661
Texas Harlingen 1,121
Texas Houston 2,854
Texas Hutto 2
Texas Karnes City 77
Texas Laredo 3,388
Texas Lubbock 34
Texas Pecos 743
Texas Port Isabel 11,150
Texas San Antonio 560
Texas South Texas DRO 118
Texas Waco 238
*DCO are the initials for ICE's administrative docket control office; DRO refers to a particular ICE Detention and Removal Operations (now Enforcement and Removal Operations) office.

For the four states bordering Mexico, almost one out of every four individuals picked up — 11,150 — were first placed in custody under the Port Isabel, Texas DCO's authority. The next highest total (7,745) was recorded by the Florence, Arizona DCO, followed by the Laredo, Texas DCO with 3,388 detainees.

No location in New Mexico recorded many initial ICE pick-ups. While a border state, only 568 individuals — less than one percent of the national total — were recorded as first detained in New Mexico. Of these, 453 were picked up in the regions surrounding Albuquerque, and 112 were under El Paso's DCO.

It is important to note that if Customs and Border Protection apprehends someone and immediately deports that individual, he or she will not show up in the statistics reported here. This is because these individuals were never detained long enough to be turned over to ICE for custody. These figures also exclude individuals picked up in other regions of the country and transferred to ICE detention facilities located along the southwest border. Here we are focusing only on the initial ICE custody location.


[1] Holiday periods such as around Thanksgiving and Christmas saw lower activity.

[2]The distinction between place of arrest and the location where an individual entered ICE custody could determine which state gets credit for apprehensions along a border between two states. This could also explain why a small state such as Rhode Island did not show up as having a single individual detained. A person arrested in Rhode Island might easily have been booked into an ICE custody location out-of-state. It is harder to understand why Mississippi — the only other state with no detainees — did not show up in these data.