Fact check: What were the average lengths of stay for detainees in Obama-era detention centers?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a significant gap in available data regarding the specific question asked. None of the sources examined provide concrete statistics on average lengths of stay for detainees in Obama-era detention centers ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}.

However, the sources do provide some relevant timeframe information for specific populations:

• For unaccompanied children in HHS care, the average length of time fell by more than half since 2011, with a substantial share of children being placed with sponsors in less than three weeks ^[6]
• The daily cost of family detention was $298 per family detainee, indicating ongoing operational expenses but not duration metrics ^[9]

The sources consistently document that the Obama administration expanded family detention facilities and dealt with surges of unaccompanied children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border ^{[3] [7] [8]}.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses narrowly on detention length statistics, but the analyses reveal several critical contextual elements that are absent:

Policy Framework Context:

• The Obama administration signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) containing sweeping worldwide indefinite detention provisions ^[4]
• There were considerations for executive orders to indefinitely imprison certain Guantanamo Bay detainees ^[5]

Operational Challenges:

• ICE faced dynamic and frequently unpredictable needs and trends in accommodation requirements ^[1]
• Border patrol agents faced significant challenges dealing with the surge situation ^[3]
• Detention centers had limited access to counsel for detainees, particularly in remote family detention facilities ^[9]

Human Impact Perspective:

• Sources document traumatic experiences of children in detention and highlight the need for reform ^[2]
• The use of chain-link fencing to create partitions in facilities became a significant policy discussion point ^[8]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain explicit misinformation, but it demonstrates several potential issues:

Scope Limitation: The question assumes that comprehensive data on "average lengths of stay" exists and is readily available, when the analyses show this specific metric is not documented in accessible sources ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]}.

Definitional Ambiguity: The question doesn't specify whether it refers to:

• Family detention centers
• Facilities for unaccompanied minors
• Adult immigration detention
• Military detention facilities

Missing Critical Context: By focusing solely on duration statistics, the question potentially diverts attention from documented policy expansions and human rights concerns that multiple sources highlight, including the ACLU's criticism of the administration's approach to family detention ^{[7] [9]}.

The framing could inadvertently support narratives that either minimize or exaggerate the Obama administration's detention policies, depending on how the (unavailable) statistics might be interpreted or used by different political actors.