A recently released report has highlighted alarming statistics regarding the detention of very young children in the United States, revealing that over 500 babies and toddlers under the age of three have been held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since President Donald Trump’s return to office. The investigation, conducted by MS NOW and The Marshall Project, sheds light on the circumstances these infants and their families face within ICE facilities, which are described as lacking essential resources, adequate food, and necessary medical care.
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The findings emerge in the wake of Republican majorities in Congress approving a significant funding package amounting to $70 billion intended for ICE and related efforts to enhance the government’s mass immigration detention and deportation programmes. According to ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the agency maintains that it does not target children or separate families. However, this assertion contrasts sharply with the reality referred to in the report, where infants and their parents suffer under harsh conditions in detention.
One poignant case reported involves a Russian refugee named Alsu, who was detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Centre in Texas with her one-year-old son, Amir. The report details how, in a bid to address the lack of proper nutrition, Alsu resorted to unconventional feeding methods, including sucking spicy pasta sauce off noodles to feed her child. Amir reportedly dealt with numerous health issues during their detention, including fevers and digestive troubles.
Democratic lawmakers have condemned the detentions of infants as “repulsive” and inhumane, underscoring a striking disparity between the administration’s claims of targeting “the worst of the worst” and the real experiences of very young children in custody. Senator Alex Padilla from California stated on social media, “500. That’s how many babies and toddlers have been in ICE detention in the midst of Trump’s anti-immigration rampage.”
Experts in child healthcare echo these concerns. Marsha Griffin, a paediatrics professor affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics, stated that the developmental stage of infants and toddlers makes detention particularly detrimental. She described it as “probably the most harmful time of their lives to have them in detention,” adding that the current immigration system is failing children.
The timing of this report coincides unfavourably with escalating funding for ICE, as President Trump recently signed a bill authorising a substantial financial package aimed at bolstering the agency’s activities. He praised the personnel of ICE and Border Patrol as heroes, asserting that they require sufficient support to carry out their duties effectively.
In response to the report, critique has emerged from various quarters, with Oregon Representative Maxine Dexter emphasising that “babies are not criminals” while voicing her discontent at taxpayer funds being allocated to the imprisonment of minors. Similarly, Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii described the funding as a “completely evil abuse of taxpayer dollars and power” aimed at supporting the detention of very young children.
Statistics disclosed in the report reveal that an average of 25 children under three have been in custody at any given time since Trump’s second term began in January 2025. The prevalence of these detentions is alarmingly tenfold greater than during President Biden’s final year in office.
Further complicating this troubling situation is a report from the Brookings Institution, which estimates that over 205,000 children have experienced the detention of one or both parents by federal immigration authorities since January 2025. This figure includes 145,000 children who are U.S. citizens and more than 50,000 children under the age of six.
In a striking incident earlier this year, details emerged concerning a two-month-old infant who developed bronchitis while in detention, requiring hospital treatment before being deported back to Mexico. Additionally, an 18-month-old named Amalia allegedly suffered severe health complications, including COVID-19 and viral infections, while in ICE custody—a situation her family contends was life-threatening.
As the report continues to make headlines, concerns about the health implications for detained children have intensified. Elora Mukherjee, a lawyer who has represented multiple detained families, remarked on the inadequate healthcare within ICE facilities, which are reportedly not equipped to handle the unique health needs of young children. She noted that the confinement environment accelerates sickness among the young detainees, leading to widespread health issues.
This report raises critical questions not only about the conditions faced by vulnerable children in detention but also about the broader ramifications of current immigration policies and the prioritisation of funding aimed at enforcement over humanitarian considerations. As lawmakers and advocates continue to voice their discontent, the discourse around the treatment of immigrant families remains deeply contentious.