The top ten states for denial of detainer orders from ICE are:
There are a number of states with sanctuary policies designed to restrict or end all cooperation with ICE. The top 10 U.S. states with policies limiting cooperation with ICE on detainers (commonly known as sanctuary states), are listed and ranked by their estimated undocumented immigrant population based on the latest available data from mid-2023. These estimates are the most recent comprehensive figures, as full-year 2025 data has not yet been released by major sources like the Migration Policy Institute (MPI). The total U.S. undocumented population was around 12.2 million at that time.
| STATE | ILLEGALS | |
|---|---|---|
| California | 2,910,000 | |
| New York | 836,000 | |
| Illinois | 588,000 | |
| New Jersey | 476,000 | |
| Massachusetts | 388,000 | |
| Washington | 344,000 | |
| Colorado | 230,000 | |
| Oregon | 155,000 | |
| Utah | 138,000 | |
| Total | 5,399,000 |