Most Americans guess between 5,000 and 100,000 people are in immigration detention
Core finding
Most Americans (57%) guess the number of people held in U.S. immigration detention falls between 5,000 and 100,000, according to a January 2024 Verasight survey.
About a third (32%) put the figure above 100,000, while roughly one-in-nine (11%) estimate fewer than 5,000.
Topline distribution
Most Americans guess between 5,000 and 100,000 people are in immigration detention.
If you had to guess, how many people are being held in immigration detention centers across the U.S. right now?
n = 1,000 · Jan 18–24, 2024 · MoE ±3.5%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | United States adults |
| Field dates | Jan 18–24, 2024 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.5% |
| Module | Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- www.verasight.io/post/verasights-supports-academic-and-nonprofit-researchers
If you had to guess, how many people are being held in immigration detention centers across the U.S. right now?
Cite this question
Verasight Interdisciplinary Omnibus Survey #2024-006, fielded January 18-24, 2024, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.5%.