Nov 12, 2018 - Politics & Policy

ICE is holding a record number of immigrants in detention

Tents set up behind a barbed wire fence that are used for detaining immigrants.

A temporary detention center for undocumented minors in Tornillo, Texas. Photo: Herika Martinez/AFP/Getty Images

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is holding a record-breaking average of 44,631 immigrants in its detention centers daily, the Daily Beast reports.

Why it matters: That's 4,000 more people than Congress has funded, and some immigrant rights groups want to know where the money is coming from, according to the Daily Beast. Earlier this year, it was reported that the Department of Homeland Security used $169 million of funds from other sub-agencies — including the Federal Emergency Management Agency — to help fund ICE's detention efforts.

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