U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained more than 500 babies and toddlers under policies enacted during the Trump administration [1].
The data highlights a significant shift in enforcement priorities regarding the youngest migrants. The detention of infants and toddlers often triggers intense legal and humanitarian scrutiny due to the vulnerability of the population, and the suitability of detention facilities for early childhood development.
Joint research conducted by MS NOW in partnership with the Marshall Project revealed that ICE dramatically increased detentions of children aged three and under [2]. According to the report, ICE held an average of 25 children in this age group in custody on any given day between January 2025 and March 2025 [2].
These findings emerge from a period described as "under Trump's rule" [1]. The research suggests that the surge in the custody of toddlers is a direct result of policy changes implemented by the administration, a trend that differs from previous enforcement patterns.
Nicolle, the host of the MS NOW report, said, "Over 500 babies and toddlers have been detained by ICE under Trump's rule" [1]. The partnership with the Marshall Project said that the agency maintained an average daily count of 25 children aged three and under during the first quarter of 2025 [2].
The reports focus on the operational reality within U.S. immigration detention facilities, where the presence of infants requires specific care and resources. The data underscores the scale of the increase in child detentions during the specified window between January and March 2025 [2].
“Over 500 babies and toddlers have been detained by ICE under Trump's rule.”
The detention of children aged three and under represents a departure from standard immigration processing, which typically prioritizes the release of minors to sponsors. This trend indicates a hardening of border and interior enforcement policies that prioritize detention over alternatives to custody, even for the youngest non-adults.
