A new report highlighted by Kyle Griffin and based on joint research by MS NOW and The Marshall Project alleges that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained a very large number of children who are still babies or toddlers during the Trump administration.
The headline claim is stark: ICE has detained more than 500 babies and toddlers. The reporting frames this as part of a broader pattern of immigration enforcement that does not only affect older children or families traveling with teenagers, but also targets extremely young children—some as young as three years old or younger—who cannot possibly have meaningful control over immigration circumstances or the decision-making that leads to detention.
The story emphasizes the ongoing nature of the issue, not just isolated incidents. According to the research referenced in the announcement, on an average day ICE custody includes around 25 children aged 3 or younger. That figure is presented as a daily snapshot, suggesting that the detention of the very youngest children is not merely an occasional occurrence. Instead, it is described as a consistent aspect of ICE’s operations—at least during the time period covered by the analysis.
The reporting also points to the collaboration between outlets and research organizations. By specifying that the findings come from joint research by MS NOW and The Marshall Project, the story underscores that the claim is not simply an allegation but is grounded in an investigative review of data. The Marshall Project is known for using reporting and analysis to examine criminal justice and related systems, and its involvement signals that the claim is meant to be data-driven.
Within the context of the news story, the phrase “under Trump” is central. It indicates that the analysis focuses on the period of Donald Trump’s presidency and the immigration enforcement environment that existed at the time. ICE detention practices during that era have been widely criticized, and this new report adds a particularly alarming dimension by focusing on the youngest possible detainees.
By discussing babies and toddlers specifically, the report implicitly draws attention to the humanitarian concerns that arise when children are detained at such young ages. Babies and toddlers require continuous care, stable environments, appropriate medical attention, and routine that supports healthy development. Detention settings typically differ dramatically from those needs, especially when children are held in facilities designed primarily for enforcement rather than early childhood care.
The summary of the report also highlights how the investigation reframes the public understanding of ICE detention. Many discussions of immigration enforcement tend to focus on adults, older children, or the dynamics of family separation. This news story, however, emphasizes that even children who are not yet able to understand why they are being detained or how long they might remain in custody can be included in ICE’s daily caseload.
The claim that on an average day there are 25 children aged three or younger in custody suggests a continuing pipeline rather than a one-off event. If those numbers hold over time, they imply a cumulative total that can reach the reported figure of over 500 babies and toddlers detained. The report therefore connects daily averages to a broader count of young children, reinforcing the message that the issue is both widespread and persistent.
The story is presented as breaking news, which indicates it is intended to be timely and attention-grabbing. The phrasing suggests the report is being shared as a crucial development, likely with the goal of prompting public scrutiny, oversight, and policy debate.
Even though the announcement is brief, it contains the essential elements that form the core of the news story: (1) ICE detained more than 500 babies and toddlers, (2) the research reports that an average day includes about 25 children aged three or younger in custody, and (3) the data comes from joint research by MS NOW and The Marshall Project.
The structure of the claim also signals the nature of the evidence being used. Reporting a specific daily average implies that the researchers examined detention records or related datasets over time and then calculated how many very young children were in custody at any given point. The second figure, the total of over 500, implies that the analysis aggregated the number of individual children detained over the relevant period.
From a communication perspective, the pairing of “over 500” and “25 on an average day” makes the issue easier to visualize and evaluate. The total provides scale; the daily average shows persistence and normalizes, in a statistical sense, the idea that the detention of toddlers is a recurring occurrence.
The report’s focus on such young ages also implies a need to examine the policies that result in these outcomes. If toddlers are being held in custody consistently, it suggests that detention decisions were made despite the vulnerability of this group. It raises questions about the standards used to determine custody arrangements for minors, what alternatives might have been available, and why ICE detention was used for children of such tender ages.
The news story also implicitly underscores that the detainees are not only affected by detention as a general concept, but also by age-specific impacts. For infants and toddlers, disruptions in routine, separation from caregivers, and limited ability to communicate needs can be especially harmful. These effects can include increased stress, disrupted sleep, developmental setbacks, and increased risk of physical or mental health consequences—particularly if medical care and child-appropriate support are inadequate.
By citing investigative work from both MS NOW and The Marshall Project, the story positions itself within a larger tradition of accountability reporting. Such reporting often aims to translate complex administrative systems into clear, measurable outcomes. In this case, the system outcome is the number of very young children held in ICE custody.
Because the story is framed around detention figures rather than personal narratives, it stays closer to the quantitative core of the issue. The primary “news” content is the figure-based claim about how many babies and toddlers were detained and what the average daily number looks like. That allows readers to understand the scale quickly and compare it to other knowledge about immigration enforcement.
The report also serves as a potential starting point for further questions and investigations. Once a pattern is quantified—more than 500 babies and toddlers, roughly 25 on an average day—journalists, advocates, and policymakers typically examine related details such as the time period used for the analysis, the definitions of “detained,” the locations of detention, and the legal framework that allowed such outcomes.
In the context of political accountability, the “under Trump” reference suggests that the investigation is likely to be used in arguments about responsibility and policy. If ICE detention practices during that period included holding toddlers and infants at significant rates, critics may use the numbers to support claims that those policies were unnecessarily harsh or lacked adequate protections for children.
At the same time, even without additional details in the brief announcement, the reported figures are significant enough to indicate an urgent humanitarian and legal concern. Detaining very young children is inherently contentious, and the scale described by the research makes the issue harder to dismiss as an exceptional edge case.
Ultimately, the story brought by Kyle Griffin centers on a disturbing finding: ICE detained over 500 babies and toddlers during the Trump administration, and on an average day there were about 25 children aged three or younger in ICE custody. The investigative research behind the claim comes from joint work by MS NOW and The Marshall Project.
Source: Kyle Griffin (as cited in the news item).
Kyle Griffin: BREAKING MS NOW: ICE has detained over 500 babies and toddlers under Trump. On an average day, ICE has 25 children aged 3 or younger in custody, according to joint research by MS NOW and The Marshall Project.. #breaking
— @kylegriffin1 May 1, 2026
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