An agency official told House lawmakers the federal prison system was holding about 700 immigration detainees at four facilities as of Wednesday morning, part of a Trump administration strategy that has drawn objections from a group of Senate Democrats.
Kathleen Toomey, associate deputy director of the federal Bureau of Prisons, disclosed that figure during a hearing of the House Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee, giving new insight into the scope of the agency’s role in implementing President Donald Trump’s tough-on-immigration approach.
Under questioning from Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., Toomey said the BOP has entered into an interagency agreement allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to place detainees at five BOP facilities — Miami; Atlanta; Philadelphia; Leavenworth, Kan.; and Berlin, N.H.
