Federal immigration enforcement detained 666 children in California during the first year of President Trump’s second term, according to an analysis of Department of Homeland Security data by researchers at UC Berkeley and UCLA. The figure represents a 90 percent increase from the previous year under the Biden administration, with more than 100 of those detained being age five or younger.

Deportation Numbers Jump Under New Administration

The data analysis, conducted by EdSource using information from the Deportation Data Project, shows dramatic shifts in how child detention cases conclude. Under Trump’s second term, 61 percent of detained California children were deported, compared to just 8 percent during the final year of Biden’s administration. The enforcement surge began immediately after Trump took office in January 2025, following campaign promises to conduct mass deportations.

Detention lengths also increased substantially nationwide. The median time children spent in detention jumped from one day under Biden to eight days under Trump. Daily average detention populations rose nearly tenfold, from 23 children per day to 219 children per day, according to federal records covering October 2022 through March 2026.

Administration Defends Enforcement Actions

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson rejected criticism of the detention figures, stating the agency is targeting dangerous criminals including terrorists, human rights abusers, and gang members. The spokesperson claimed critics were cherry-picking data to create a false narrative, emphasizing that crossing the border illegally constitutes a crime. The official maintained that ICE is not targeting children specifically.

However, EdSource’s examination of ICE records found none of the 666 detained California children had felony convictions or prior criminal records. Twelve minors were listed with pending charges, including three girls between ages six and nine, though the nature of those charges was not specified in the available data.

Medical Experts Raise Concerns

Healthcare professionals and child welfare advocates argue that any detention period harms children’s development. A 2016 Department of Homeland Security Advisory Committee recommended ending family detention entirely, concluding that holding children while immigration cases proceed is never in their best interest. Wendy Cervantes, who leads immigrant family research at the Center for Law and Social Policy in Washington, stated that detained children lose irreplaceable parts of their childhood each day they remain in custody.

California education officials report the enforcement operations have created fear in immigrant communities, causing some students to skip school. ICE agents have conducted large-scale operations in neighborhoods with significant immigrant populations and detained children during routine check-ins their parents attended.