The DHS Detention Watch project examines the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities and detainee conditions from 2019 to 2022. It focuses on the transition in presidential government from a Republican to a Democratic president and aims to determine the effects of this transition on the facilities and detainees. The project utilizes a range of data analysis approaches, including qualitative, quantitative, and visualization methods, to investigate changes in the number, type, operator category, and location of the facilities. The research methods and findings focus on the impact of the transition in presidential government on the operations of the facilities and the detainees. The findings of this project are significant as they contribute to understanding the impact of presidential stances, immigration laws, and policies on DHS-ICE detainees, and highlight the importance of data quality and accurate data collection methodologies for both documentation purposes, but most importantly for the well-being of individuals affected by the immigration system. The project's audience includes policymakers, immigration lawyers, advocacy groups, scholars, and anyone interested in immigration reform in the United States.

The project utilizes original DHS reports from 2019 to 2022, specifically examining the ICE Detention Data, Average in Custody Length of Stay (ICLOS) and Detainees, and Facilities tabs. A new dataset, "DHS–ICE Facilities Statistics FY 2019-2022," is created by compiling and cleaning up the data, including adding new columns and removing irrelevant ones. Google Sheets, Tableau, and R are used for data compilation, clean-up, visualization, and analysis.

Overall, this project provides valuable insights into immigration detention in the United States, informs policymakers and decision-makers, and contributes to the ongoing dialogue on immigration reform.