An Inside Look at ICE's Expanding Mission and Operations

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Key Takeaways

• ICE plans to expand detention capacity from 50,000 to over 200,000 beds by 2028.
• 287(g) local enforcement partnerships tripled to 506 active agreements in 38 states.
• ICE gained IRS access to taxpayer data for 7 million undocumented immigrants from April 2025.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is undergoing a major transformation, expanding its mission in ways that touch nearly every aspect of immigration enforcement in the United States 🇺🇸. This analysis examines the scope, methods, and impacts of ICE’s expansion, focusing on detention facilities, enforcement partnerships, technology, data sharing, removal operations, policy changes, and public response. The goal is to provide a clear, evidence-based overview of these changes, highlight key trends, and offer practical insights for stakeholders.

An Inside Look at ICE’s Expanding Mission and Operations

Purpose and Scope

This analysis aims to:

Describe the recent expansion of ICE’s mission across detention, enforcement, and technology
Present key data and visual descriptions to help readers understand the scale and direction of these changes
Compare current trends with past practices to highlight what is new or different
Draw evidence-based conclusions about the likely impacts on immigrants, communities, and policy
Identify limitations in available data and areas for further review

Methodology

This report draws on:

Official ICE press releases and government documents
Data from ACLU Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation
Legislative texts and budget projections
Reports from civil rights organizations and news coverage
Analysis from VisaVerge.com

All facts and figures are attributed to their original sources. Where possible, links to official government resources are provided for further reading.

Key Findings

ICE is rapidly expanding detention capacity, with new and enlarged facilities in multiple states, including a major expansion in Charlton County.
Local enforcement partnerships through the 287(g) program have more than tripled, deputizing local police as immigration agents in a record number of communities.
ICE’s technological capabilities are growing, with advanced case management and data-sharing systems enabling broader surveillance and enforcement.
A new data-sharing agreement with the IRS gives ICE access to taxpayer information for millions of undocumented immigrants, raising privacy and legal concerns.
Removal operations are increasing, with more repatriation flights to a wider range of countries.
Policy changes have removed previous restrictions on enforcement in sensitive locations, expanding ICE’s operational reach.
Budget projections show a dramatic increase in funding and staffing for ICE and related agencies through 2028.
Public protests and legal challenges are mounting, reflecting deep divisions over the expansion of ICE’s mission.

Data Presentation and Visual Descriptions

Detention Facilities: Growth in Capacity

Charlton County Expansion: ICE is merging a processing center with a correctional facility in Charlton County, increasing total capacity to nearly 3,000 beds (ICE press release, June 5, 2025).
Nationwide Expansion: Documents from ACLU FOIA litigation show plans to expand or open new detention facilities in 10 states across the Midwest and West Coast.
Private Prison Involvement: Companies like GEO Group and CoreCivic have submitted proposals to operate new facilities.
Budget Impact: The detention budget is projected to quadruple by 2028, potentially raising ICE’s capacity from 50,000 to over 200,000 beds at any given time.

Visual Description: Imagine a map of the United States 🇺🇸 with new and expanded detention centers marked in states like Georgia (Charlton County), Texas, and several Midwest and West Coast states. Each marker represents hundreds or thousands of beds, showing a sharp increase in capacity compared to previous years.

Local Enforcement Partnerships: 287(g) Program

Record Number of Agreements: As of April 29, 2025, there are 506 active 287(g) agreements in 38 states, with 74 more pending.
Rapid Growth: In one week in February 2025, ICE signed 140 new agreements—more than had ever existed at one time before.
Task Force Model: The “task force model” allows local police to act as immigration agents during routine duties. There are now 231 such agreements, compared to a previous high of about 40.
Officer Deputization: At least 625 officers have been deputized under this model.

Visual Description: Picture a bar graph showing the number of 287(g) agreements over time. The bars for 2025 tower over previous years, illustrating the sharp increase in local partnerships.

Technology and Surveillance

Investigative Case Management (ICM) System: Developed with Palantir Technologies, this system manages case files, tracks investigations, and shares intelligence across agencies.
Immigration Lifecycle Operating System (ImmigrationOS): Integrates with other federal law enforcement systems for real-time data sharing.
Advanced Analytics: These systems allow for link analysis, cross-referencing, and tracking of individuals, entities, and events.

Visual Description: Envision a network diagram with ICE at the center, connected by lines to other federal agencies, local police, and data sources, representing the flow of information enabled by these systems.

IRS-DHS Memorandum: Signed April 7, 2025, this agreement gives ICE access to names, addresses, and tax data for individuals with final removal orders or under investigation.
Scope: ICE may use this data to locate up to 7 million suspected undocumented immigrants.
Potential Use of Artificial Intelligence: The agreement suggests ICE may use AI to analyze taxpayer data.

Visual Description: Imagine a secure database where ICE agents can search for taxpayer information, with connections to enforcement and removal operations.

Removal Operations

Repatriation Flights: ICE now averages 29 removal flights per week to countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Egypt, Mauritania, Senegal, Uzbekistan, and India.
Expansion: More flights are expected, supporting new rules to speed up removals for those without legal status.

Visual Description: Picture a flight schedule board, with destinations across Latin America, Africa, and Asia, showing the global reach of ICE’s removal operations.

Policy and Budget Changes

Rescinding Sensitive Location Guidelines: On January 22, 2025, DHS removed restrictions on enforcement in places like schools and hospitals.
H.R. 1 Legislation: Requires ICE to hire at least 10,000 new agents, more than doubling current staffing.
Budget Projections: ICE’s budget is expected to triple by 2028, with the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) budget nearly quadrupling.

Visual Description: A line graph showing ICE’s budget rising steeply from 2024 to 2028, with separate lines for overall budget, ERO, and transportation/removal funding.

Comparisons, Trends, and Patterns

Expansion Compared to Past Practices

Detention Capacity: The projected increase to over 200,000 beds is unprecedented, far exceeding previous highs.
287(g) Agreements: The number of local enforcement partnerships has more than tripled, with a shift toward the task force model.
Technology: ICE’s use of advanced data systems and real-time information sharing marks a significant leap from earlier, more manual processes.
Data Access: The IRS agreement represents a new level of inter-agency cooperation, with potential privacy implications not seen before.

Patterns and Implications

Centralization and Coordination: ICE is moving toward a more centralized, technology-driven approach, coordinating with local police and other federal agencies.
Privatization: The role of private prison companies is expanding, with more facilities operated by GEO Group and CoreCivic.
Increased Enforcement Reach: With more officers, facilities, and data, ICE can reach deeper into communities, including non-traditional states.
Budget-Driven Growth: Legislative mandates and budget increases are fueling this expansion, with clear targets for staffing and capacity.

Evidence-Based Conclusions

ICE’s mission is expanding on multiple fronts, with more detention space, broader enforcement authority, and advanced technology.
The involvement of local police through 287(g) agreements is reshaping interior enforcement, making immigration checks a routine part of local policing in many areas.
Technological upgrades are enabling ICE to track, manage, and share information more efficiently, increasing the agency’s ability to locate and remove undocumented immigrants.
The IRS data-sharing agreement marks a new era of inter-agency cooperation, but also raises serious privacy and legal questions.
Removal operations are becoming more frequent and global, with more flights to a wider range of countries.
Policy changes have removed previous limits on where ICE can operate, increasing the risk of enforcement actions in sensitive locations.
Budget increases suggest that this expansion is likely to continue, with more agents, facilities, and resources on the way.

As reported by VisaVerge.com, these changes are expected to “completely remake the landscape of interior immigration enforcement across the entire country,” affecting millions of immigrants and the communities where they live.

Limitations

Data Gaps: Some details about facility locations, contract terms, and operational plans are not publicly available.
Legal Uncertainty: Ongoing court challenges, such as efforts to block the IRS data-sharing agreement, could alter the scope of ICE’s expansion.
Evolving Policies: Changes in administration or congressional action could shift priorities or funding levels.
Community Impact: The full effects on immigrant communities, local economies, and public services are not yet clear and require further study.

Practical Guidance and Next Steps

For immigrants, advocates, and community leaders:

Stay informed about local enforcement partnerships: Check if your local police have a 287(g) agreement with ICE. The ICE 287(g) Program page provides updated lists of participating agencies.
Know your rights: Understand what to do if approached by ICE or local police acting as immigration agents. Many organizations offer “Know Your Rights” resources.
Monitor policy changes: Keep track of new rules, especially regarding sensitive locations and data sharing.
Engage with local officials: Community input can influence whether local police sign or renew 287(g) agreements.
Seek legal advice: If you or someone you know is affected by detention or removal operations, consult a qualified immigration attorney.

For employers and service providers:

Review compliance procedures: Ensure hiring and record-keeping practices follow current laws.
Support affected employees or clients: Provide information about legal resources and community support.

For policymakers and researchers:

Monitor the impact of expanded detention and enforcement: Collect data on outcomes, costs, and community effects.
Evaluate privacy and legal issues: Assess the implications of data sharing between agencies.

Official Resources

For authoritative information on ICE’s mission, detention facilities, and enforcement programs, visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official website.

Conclusion

ICE’s expanding mission represents one of the most significant shifts in U.S. 🇺🇸 immigration enforcement in decades. With larger detention facilities—including in Charlton County—more local police partnerships, advanced technology, and new data-sharing powers, ICE is poised to play a larger role in immigration policy and practice. While these changes are driven by legislative mandates and budget increases, they also raise important questions about privacy, community impact, and the future direction of immigration enforcement. Ongoing legal challenges and public protests suggest that the debate over ICE’s role is far from settled. Stakeholders should remain alert to new developments, use official resources for up-to-date information, and seek legal or community support as needed.

Learn Today

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) → Federal agency enforcing immigration laws and managing detention and removal operations in the U.S.
287(g) Program → A federal-state agreement allowing local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement duties.
Investigative Case Management (ICM) → ICE’s advanced case management system developed to track and share investigation files securely.
IRS-DHS Memorandum → Data-sharing agreement permitting ICE access to IRS taxpayer information for immigration enforcement.
Removal Operations → Processes involving the deportation or repatriation of undocumented immigrants from the U.S.

This Article in a Nutshell

ICE is rapidly expanding detention facilities, local police partnerships, and advanced technologies, transforming U.S. immigration enforcement. The agency’s growing budget supports more agents and flights. However, increased surveillance and IRS data sharing raise privacy concerns, prompting legal challenges and public protests nationwide.
— By VisaVerge.com