Three men who escaped from the Campsfield detention centre over the weekend were recaptured, Thames Valley Police said.
Assistant Chief Constable Francis Habgood, who is co-ordinating the operation, said: "We are already making progress and three of the outstanding detainees have been recaptured."
Police raided addresses across the country in their hunt for the remaining detainees - 11 are still at large.
Thames Valley Police, working with the Borders and Immigration Agency, said more than 50 officers were involved in the operation across a number of police forces.
Twenty-six men fled the Campsfield House Immigration Detention Centre in Oxfordshire during disturbances on Saturday, but police recaptured 12 at the weekend.
More than 20 addresses have been checked since the escape and police said they were continuing to follow up further intelligence leads.
Assistant Chief Constable Habgood said: "Police officers across the country are working hard to try and recapture those who escaped.
"All of those escaped had served a custodial sentence for a range of offences and were being considered for deportation.
"We are constantly reviewing all the intelligence to prioritise our work and to assess any risk to the public."
The escape occurred during disturbances at Campsfield on Saturday night, when detainees lit fires. Officers in riot gear were brought in to deal with the situation.
