Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials have warned that the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the detention of undocumented immigrants accused of certain nonviolent crimes, could further strain its resources. The agency has identified over 60,000 individuals without legal status who would meet the bill's criteria for detention, far exceeding its current capacity.
According to a report obtained by Axios, ICE has funding for only 42,000 detention beds, with 39,000 already occupied as of December. Of those detainees, 62% are required by law to remain in custody. Meeting the demands of the proposed legislation would require an additional 64,000 beds, bringing the total to more than 100,000.
