The number of people being under Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention has dropped since the fallout of two high-profile shootings in Minnesota.
CBS News reported that, after reaching a record high in January, the number of detainees has declined by about 12 percent as of March. The network noted that the decline has been driven largely by the fact that ICE is holding fewer people who do not have criminal records.
The outlet went on to detail that about 63,000 people were under detention each day on average in March, compared to about 72,000 in January.
The decline in average daily detainees also occurred after two shooting deaths of U.S. citizens in January and changes in leadership. The incidents caused a significant backlash against ICE and Border Patrol.
Renee Nicole Good, 37, was shot during an altercation with federal immigration officers on January 7. Good attempted to drive away after being confronted by officers, and drove in the direction of an officer, who opened fire.
Just a couple of weeks later, on January 24, Alex Pretti, 37, was shot by ICE officers. Pretti was on the ground with multiple officers restraining him when one of the ICE officers drew their weapon and shot him in the back. Pretti was legally carrying a gun, but he did not draw the weapon, and footage appeared to show he had been disarmed before being shot, ABC News reported.
By February, some polls showed that as many as 63 percent of the public disapproved of ICE's immigration enforcement tactics.
Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino left Minnesota days after the shooting. Bovino had largely been the face of the immigration enforcement efforts. In March, he announced he was retiring. Also in March, President Trump fired Kristi Noem as Department of Homeland Security secretary.
