U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention numbers fell 12% from a record high in January to March, driven mainly by fewer non-criminal detainees.

Despite the decline, overall detention levels remain historically high compared with previous administrations.

The drop follows public backlash over aggressive enforcement operations and leadership changes within the Department of Homeland Security.

Officials say enforcement has shifted toward prioritizing arrests of immigrants with criminal records rather than broad sweeps, CBS News has reported.

However, analysts say it is still unclear whether this represents a lasting policy change or a temporary adjustment.