Index/Topics/US Immigration Detention Policies

US Immigration Detention Policies

The topic revolves around the policies and practices of detention in the US immigration system, including the distinction between mandatory and discretionary detention based on criminal records.

Fact-Checks

9 results
Jan 27, 2026
Most Viewed

How many us citizens were detained by ICE during the past five years

Available, verifiable government-watchdog reporting establishes a demonstrable floor: people identified as U.S. citizens were detained by in the period analyzed by the — a conservative minimum — but o...

Feb 1, 2026
Most Viewed

Which U.S. cities have the highest proportion of immigrant arrests or convictions in 2020s?

The public record does not supply a definitive, nationwide list of cities ranked by the proportion of arrests or convictions that involve immigrants in the 2020s; instead, federal and advocacy dataset...

Jan 29, 2026
Most Viewed

How many US citizens were shot and killed by Federal immigration officers during Barack Obama's presidencies?

A review of the reporting provided finds no documented cases in those sources of U.S. citizens being shot and killed by federal immigration officers during ’s two presidencies; the deaths linked to in...

Feb 5, 2026

Is a Visa Overstay Illegal?

—remaining in the past the date on one’s I‑94 or other admission document—is a violation of that creates “unlawful presence” and triggers civil immigration consequences such as removal proceedings and...

Feb 4, 2026

United States v. Brignoni-Ponce

v. Brignoni-Ponce is a decision that constrained authority by holding that a roving patrol may not stop a vehicle solely because its occupants appear to be of ancestry, requiring instead reasonable su...

Feb 3, 2026

is entering the US illegally a felony or a misdemeanor

Improper entry into the —commonly described as ""—is generally a federal misdemeanor on a first offense under 8 U.S.C. §1325, punishable by fines or up to six months' imprisonment . By contrast, unlaw...

Feb 3, 2026

Who is Liam Ramos’ father and why was he targeted by ice

(also reported as Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias) is the father of and, according to his legal team and several news outlets, an asylum seeker from with a pending claim filed after entering the in 2024...

Feb 2, 2026

Is entering the United States without immigrating illegal

without authorization can be unlawful in multiple ways: it can violate criminal statutes that bar improper entry, trigger civil immigration removal proceedings, and run afoul of presidential proclamat...

Jan 14, 2026

How do detention and release policies differ for detainees with criminal records compared to those with only civil immigration violations?

Detention and release policies diverge sharply depending on whether an individual has a criminal record: immigration law creates categories of mandatory detention tied to specified criminal conviction...