The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has more than doubled its arrests of minors in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025, as revealed by a report from The Marshall Project released this Wednesday.
Florida ranks prominently among states with the most significant increase, raising alarm among thousands of immigrant families—including those with precarious Cuban documentation—living in the state.
According to data from the Deportation Data Project, a joint effort between the University of California, Berkeley, and UCLA, between January 1, 2025, and August 8, 2026, ICE detained 8,592 minors during Donald Trump's second presidential term. Overall, 8,755 children entered immigration custody, including 562 infants and toddlers. On average, 198 minors were held daily.
Florida's Escalating Detentions
Florida is fourth in the nation with 802 minor detentions, trailing California (1,635), Texas (1,477), and New York (1,336). However, the acceleration is noteworthy: in the first seven months of 2026, both Florida and Massachusetts have already surpassed twice the total minor arrests recorded throughout 2025. In New York and New Jersey, the numbers have tripled.
Changing Immigration Landscape
The spike in ICE's minor arrests is part of an evolving immigration landscape. Follow all updates in our U.S. Immigration section.
This surge in Florida is not coincidental. The state transitioned from having no local law enforcement agencies in the 287(g) program—which allows local police to act as immigration agents—to having agreements in all 67 counties by January 2026. Added to this is the Baker Correctional Institution, known as the "Deportation Depot," in northern Florida, housing approximately 1,000 individuals and operating without ICE Detention Oversight inspections.
Most minors in arrest records have no criminal history or pending charges beyond immigration violations, which are nearly always civil, not criminal. Nonetheless, the report documents operations with violence that shocked lawyers and activists. A 16-year-old, identified as J.A.I., recounted in court how agents stormed his Texas home at 5 a.m.: "They pointed a gun at my little brother, slammed him against the wall, grabbed his hair, and handcuffed him. They did the same to me."
Hidden Detention Sites
Other minors ended up in locations where neither their attorneys nor families could locate them. Court records from the Flores settlement note 86 children held in hotels for over three days during February and March. Becky Wolozin, an attorney at the National Center for Youth Law, described these places as "black boxes" where families virtually disappear, with little to no contact with lawyers and relatives.
For Cuban families in Florida—particularly those with I-220A, expired parole, or pending deportation orders—the situation is especially dire. ICE detentions of Cubans rose by 463% between late 2024 and early 2026, with over 42,000 Cubans facing final deportation orders in the U.S. Experts advise at-risk families to develop an emergency plan: designate a trusted caregiver in writing, sign medical and school authorizations, store copies of key documents, and memorize attorneys' phone numbers.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to specific inquiries from investigators and issued a statement claiming the Deportation Data Project's figures were inaccurate, without providing evidence or alternative statistics.
Elora Mukherjee, an attorney and professor at Columbia Law School who has represented over 100 children and parents in ICE custody over the past year, commented on the situation: "As a nation, we should not be cruel to children. This is the time of year when children should be back in school, in their classrooms." The report is released less than three weeks before the November 3, 2026, legislative elections, where immigration policy has become a divisive issue among Cuban-American voters in Florida.
FAQs on ICE Child Arrests and Immigration Policies
Why has ICE's arrest of minors increased in 2026?
The increase is part of a broader shift in immigration enforcement policies, with states like Florida seeing significant escalations due to new agreements under the 287(g) program and other factors.
How are Cuban families in Florida affected by these policies?
Cuban families, especially those with expired parole or pending deportation orders, face increased risk of detention. Experts recommend preparing emergency plans, including legal and caregiver arrangements.
What legal actions can be taken against ICE detentions of minors?
Legal aid organizations and immigration lawyers can challenge detentions, particularly when minors are held in non-standard facilities or when due process is compromised.