More Local Jail Beds Will Be Needed Under the Trump Administration
Federal detention bed space needs are projected to increase significantly during a second Trump administration, prompting a call for local sheriffs to expand existing federal populations or make their bed space available. The policies of the previous Biden administration led to reduced criminal apprehensions and immigration-related enforcement actions. The anticipated reversal of these actions will depend heavily on the response of local sheriffs, as federal agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) primarily house their incarcerated individuals in nonfederal facilities. This shift is expected to create a substantial demand for additional jail beds, potentially leading to a return to higher detention levels observed in prior administrations.
To prepare for this anticipated increase, local jails with existing intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with USMS or ICE should review their current per diem rates, as operating costs have risen considerably. Facilities without current federal populations but with available capacity are encouraged to contact their local USMS or ICE field offices to establish new IGAs. Successfully accommodating the projected surge in federal detainees will also require jails to assess and potentially update staffing levels, evaluate medical capabilities, and ensure that facility operations are consistent with federal detention standards. The coming years are likely to bring a historic increase in federal detention bed space requirements, with sheriffs playing a critical role in fulfilling these needs. For more in-depth information, read the full article “New Federal Detention Requirements: What Sheriffs Can Expect” in the May/June 2025 National Sheriff’s Association Sheriff & Deputy Magazine here.
This is an excerpt from an article published in the May/June 2025 edition of National Sheriff’s Association Sheriff & Deputy Magazine. In the article, JailGeek Founder and CEO Joe Summerill and Advisor John Scalia outline a significant shift in federal detention needs, projecting a sharp increase in demand for local jail beds under a second Trump administration. Read the full article here.