Brookings analysis: over 145k U.S. children affected by parental detention under Trump-era enforcement
A Brookings Institution study estimates about 146,635 U.S. citizen children have had a parent detained since Trump began his second term, with more than 22,000 experiencing the detention of all resident parents. DHS data show 18,277 detainees with citizen children in fiscal year 2025, though researchers say the figure is likely an undercount. A Guardian investigation put the early-2025 figures at roughly 18,400 detained parents affecting as many as 32,000 children. The report urges better data collection and stronger protections for affected children.