House Democrats back bill limiting ICE detention
Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Adam Smith introduced the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act with support from more than 120 House Democrats, proposing to repeal mandatory immigration detention, create a presumption of release for some groups, and phase out private detention facilities by about 2029. The bill would also require DHS to allow members of Congress unannounced access to detention centers. A contractors’ trade group, the Day 1 Alliance, criticized the measure as effectively ending immigration enforcement.
📌 Key Facts
- Over 120 House Democrats co-sponsored the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act.
- Provisions include repealing mandatory detention, a presumption of release for caregivers and vulnerable populations, and ending private detention use by ~2029.
- The bill mandates DHS admit members of Congress for unannounced facility inspections; Day 1 Alliance issued strong opposition.
📊 Relevant Data
As of November 16, 2025, 73.6% of individuals held in ICE detention (47,964 out of 65,135) have no criminal conviction.
Immigration Detention Quick Facts — TRAC Reports
70% of ICE arrests are of illegal aliens who have been convicted or charged with a crime.
Violent Crime Falls in U.S. Cities as ICE Removes Worst of the Worst from American Communities — Department of Homeland Security
Relative to undocumented immigrants, US-born citizens are over 2 times more likely to be arrested for violent crimes, 2.5 times more likely for drug crimes, and over 4 times more likely for property crimes in Texas between 2012 and 2016. Undocumented immigrants make up an estimated 6.1% of Texas's population during this period.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
From fiscal year 2015 through the second quarter of fiscal year 2021, ICE issued detainers for at least 895 potential U.S. citizens.
Immigration Enforcement: Actions Needed to Better Track Cases Involving Suspected Human Rights Violators and Alleged ICE Fugitives — U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)
The federal government pays around $150 per day for each adult immigrant detainee as of 2025.
How Expanded Migrant Detention Drives Profiteering and Leads to Abuse — Scholars Strategy Network