Detention of Undocumented Migrants in the United States: Who is Who in Apprehensions?

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between migration and politics in the United States during the period 2000-2020. Specifically, detention figures are examined in relation to the ruling party at the state level, in the context of different conjunctural events and socioeconomic processes, using data from the United States Department of Homeland Security, by participating agency. Different questions guide the investigation in each section: first, who apprehends immigrants in the United States?; Second, which agency makes the most apprehensions of undocumented immigrants?, and where do the largest number of apprehensions take place, at the border or inside the country?; Third, what role do state governments play depending on their political affiliation, Democrat or Republican? Main trends and differences are presented in the conclusions.