Where Does ICE Detain the Most Migrants? Texas Leads With Over 63,000 Arrests

Nueva Voz · IA

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The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) concentrated the majority of its migrant arrests in Texas during 2026. The state accumulated at least 63,404 detentions between January 1 and August 6, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.

Texas leads the map of migrant detentions

The records, compiled by the Deportation Data Project and cited by Univision, show that Texas concentrates the largest number of ICE arrests in 2026, with Dallas, Laredo, and Conroe leading the cities with the most detentions. The state surpasses any other region in the country by a wide margin.

Florida ranks second among states, with 29,624 arrests, which falls short of half the figure recorded in Texas. California follows with 22,262 detentions, while Georgia and Arizona complete the top five with 10,846 and 10,209 arrests, respectively.

New Jersey and New York also appear on the list, with 8,980 and 8,500 arrests. Other states with high figures include Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Maryland, Indiana, Louisiana, and Minnesota.

Dallas, Laredo, and Conroe: the triangle with the most operations

At the city level, three Texas cities occupy the top three places on the national list. Dallas leads with 8,106 arrests, followed by Laredo with 7,141 and Conroe with 7,124 detentions.

Together, the three Texas cities total 22,371 arrests, a figure that by itself exceeds the total recorded in most individual states on the list. San Diego, California, ranks fourth with 5,409 detentions, and Florence, Arizona, closes the top five with 5,209.

San Antonio, Miami, and Houston also rank among the cities with the most apprehensions. Miami totaled 4,862 arrests, Houston 3,302, and Orlando 3,680, according to the same records.

What does a migrant detention mean?

It is important to distinguish between an arrest and a deportation. A migrant detention does not automatically equate to expulsion from the country.

After being arrested, an undocumented person may face different procedures within the immigration system. This includes appearing before an immigration judge, requesting bail, or in some cases, pursuing voluntary departure.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency ICE depends on, has defended the increase in operations as part of its immigration enforcement strategy. A DHS spokesperson affirmed that the priority is individuals with criminal backgrounds.

The legal framework supporting the operations

ICE has federal authority to arrest people for civil immigration violations, even without a criminal arrest warrant, according to specialized legal organizations. However, that authority does not eliminate the constitutional rights of detained persons.

Any person, regardless of immigration status, has the right to remain silent and to request an attorney before signing any documents. They can also refuse searches of themselves, their belongings, or their residence without a warrant signed by a judge.

Civil rights organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have emphasized that agents can access public areas but not private spaces without consent.

Stories behind the numbers

Behind each number is an affected family. In Texas, there was a reported case of a father detained along with his 5-year-old son while heading to soccer practice, an episode that generated outrage in the state’s Hispanic community.

The child’s family stated they had a valid agricultural worker visa, a version that contradicts ICE’s official explanation regarding the father’s irregular reentry into the country. The case remains under review while both continue in immigration custody.

Stories like this are repeated in different Texas cities, where entire communities have modified their daily routines out of fear of an encounter with immigration agents.

What can immigrant families do?

Faced with the increase in operations, immigration attorneys recommend that families prepare an emergency plan with trusted contacts and copies of important documents. They also suggest memorizing numbers of free legal assistance organizations available in each state.

Undocumented people facing arrest can seek immediate legal counsel through community clinics and immigration assistance hotlines. Knowing these resources in advance can make a difference in a potential encounter with ICE.

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