Trump Administration Expands ICE Detention Powers Amid Surge in Deportations

New ICE Detention Authority

The Justice Department memo obtained by CBS News confirms that the Trump administration has granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement the power to detain refugees who entered the United States legally but have not yet received green cards. The move is framed as a tighter review of the legal immigration system.

Rising Deportations and Court Activity

According to a White House release, more than three million undocumented migrants have voluntarily left the country during the president’s second term, while none have been released at the border for 11 consecutive months. Fiscal year 2025 saw nearly 500 000 removal orders issued by immigration courts – a 57 % jump from the previous year.

Public Response and Congressional Scrutiny

ICE raids continue in several states, prompting protests and renewed calls from Democrats for oversight, mandatory identification for agents, and judicial warrants for arrests on private property. An investigation in Minnesota also alleges excessive force by officers during a recent detention.