Over 500 babies and toddlers detained during Trump administration immigration crackdown, study finds
A report by The Marshall Project and MS NOW found that more than 500 babies and toddlers were detained during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations between January 2025 and March 2026. The study, based on records from the Deportation Data Project, shows an average of 25 children aged 3 or younger held in custody daily—roughly 10 times higher than the fewer than 3 per day during the final year of the Biden administration. The findings raise concerns about the health and developmental impacts of detaining infants and toddlers, with medical professionals warning that early childhood is a particularly harmful time for such detention.
According to research conducted by The Marshall Project and MS NOW using Deportation Data Project records, at least 500 babies and toddlers were detained during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown between January 2025 and March 2026, with an average of 25 children aged 3 or younger held in custody on any given day. This represents a tenfold increase compared to the previous 12 months under the Biden administration, when fewer than 3 infants or toddlers were held daily. The report also found that at least 175 babies and toddlers were held beyond the 20-day limit established by the 1997 Flores v. Reno settlement, compared to zero children aged 3 or younger held beyond this limit during Biden's final year. Medical professionals, including pediatrics experts, have expressed concern about the developmental and psychological impacts of detention on infants and toddlers, citing cases of children experiencing depression, loss of appetite, and other health complications. ICE has stated it is working to remove detainees from facilities, and in court filings claimed that detained children receive appropriate care including formula, outdoor play structures, and age-appropriate meals.
What's missing
The article does not provide information about the legal basis or justification the Trump administration offered for the increased detention of infants and toddlers, nor does it include detailed response or policy explanation from administration officials beyond ICE's statement about removal operations.
What different sources said
- The IndependentLeft
Trump administration detained more than 500 babies and toddlers in immigration crackdown
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