Brian Lerer on WNYC.

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Now, we'll spend some time here delving into the data behind the Trump administration's mass

deportation policy.

Few individual stories of immigration detainees have made headlines.

The personal stories are so compelling, obviously, but there's a bigger picture here that can

fly below many people's radar.

The administration has enforced daily arrest quotas in immigration and customs enforcement,

ICE, removed temporary legal status for migrants from an array of countries, people who were

here in legal status. They've increased asylum, denials, and now there's news that about 58,000 people are currently being held in one of

200 ICE detention facilities across the country, 58,000 people now, and they're up to 200 of

these facilities, which may be the highest number ever recorded in history, that 58,000 immigrant detainees at once.

That's according to Dr. Austin Coker, research professor at Syracuse University,

their Newhouse School of Public Communications there, his self-titled substack is dedicated to, quote,

decoding the U.S. immigration system with clear analysis backed by data. And he joins us

now with some of his findings. Dr. Coker, thanks for doing this. Welcome to WNYC. Thanks for having me on, Brian.

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