HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

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2640 incidents with known locations

174 of 3358 incidents

Nevada ICE detention center in Pahrump consistently overcrowded by 40-plus people per day

Nov 30, 2025Pahrump, NV

The CoreCivic-operated Nevada Southern Detention Center, with a contractual capacity of 422, was consistently overcrowded. ICE planned to add a soft-sided structure for 450 additional beds, more than doubling capacity. CoreCivic announced a contract modification enabling detention of an additional 784 people.

Iranian Graduate Student's Visa Cancelled at U.S. Border

Nov 30, 2025Buffalo, NYIran

Ehsan Rajabi, an Iranian graduate student at Johns Hopkins University studying art history, had his student visa cancelled by U.S. border officials at the American border near Buffalo, New York. After presenting all required documentation including his student visa and Canadian visitor visa, officers searched his car and phone, interrogated him for hours, and then used a red marker to draw a cancellation line across his student visa.

Community organizers support Indigenous family facing immigration enforcement

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Nov 28, 2025Fontana, CAMexico

Community organizers in Fontana, California are providing legal representation and mental health support resources to an Indigenous family in connection with immigration enforcement actions.

Mohammad Rasoli, Afghan Refugee, Detained by ICE; Asylum Approval Under Appeal

Nov 28, 2025New MexicoAfghanistan

Mohammad Rasoli, an 18-year-old Afghan citizen who entered the U.S. through Operation Allies Refuge, was detained by ICE on November 28, 2025, without warning. He was charged with removability for being present without proper immigration documentation after his OAR enrollment expired. An Immigration Judge granted his asylum application in March 2026, but DHS appealed. The court ordered the government to show cause why he should not be released and enjoined his transfer outside New Mexico.

Beaverton community rallies for deported father of three

Nov 28, 2025Beaverton, ORMexico

Paulino Martin, an undocumented handyman who lived in Beaverton for over 30 years, was detained by ICE while driving to get lunch and deported to Mexico within three days. The community gathered at Southridge High School to rally in support of Martin, a father of three with no criminal record, as speakers praised his character and work ethic.

U.S. Citizens Testify Congress About Violent ICE Encounters

Nov 27, 2025

U.S. citizens testified before Congress about violent encounters with federal immigration agents. Daniel Rascon described an incident where agents pointed rifles at him and shot at his car.

Indigenous actor says ICE rejected her tribal ID as fake

Nov 27, 2025Redmond, WA

Indigenous actor Elaine Miles was stopped by ICE agents in Redmond, Washington, who questioned the validity of her tribal ID from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, with one agent calling it "fake." Miles said the agents did not identify themselves and attempted to take her phone when she tried to call the tribal enrollment office to verify her ID. Her son and uncle were also reportedly detained by ICE agents who initially rejected their tribal IDs before being released.

ICE Officer Bovino accused of lying, use of force against Chicago protesters

Nov 27, 2025Chicago, IL

Federal immigration enforcement officer Bovino was found by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis to have lied about a rock-throwing incident used to justify deploying tear gas against protesters in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood during Operation Midway Blitz. Video evidence contradicted his claim that he was hit by a rock before throwing tear gas, and the judge issued a preliminary injunction against federal immigration agents for violating her temporary restraining order by using force without warning.

Army sergeant's husband remains deported to El Salvador despite legal efforts

Nov 27, 2025Houston, TXEl Salvador

Fredy Arcenio Zavala-Baires, 25, a Salvadoran national who entered the U.S. as a child, was detained at an ICE appointment in November 2025 and deported to El Salvador on November 27, 2025, despite being married to Sgt. Nataly Castro, a seven-year Army National Guard veteran. An immigration judge issued a removal order against him in 2017, which was affirmed by the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2018. As of June 2026, Castro had spent over $3,000 in legal fees attempting to bring her husband back, while ICE officials maintained that Zavala-Baires received full due process and that clear legal pathways exist for military spouses seeking immigration benefits.

Macon woman released after 243 days in ICE detention over citizenship dispute

Nov 27, 2025Macon, GAPhilippines

Alma Bowman, a 59-year-old Macon resident, was detained by ICE on March 26, 2025, during a routine check-in and held at Stewart Detention Center for 243 days until her release in late November 2025. Bowman claims U.S. citizenship as the daughter of an American Navy serviceman and was born in the Philippines. ICE asserted she was in the country illegally. This was her second detention; she had previously been held for three years (2017-2020) at Irwin County Detention Center following criminal convictions deemed deportable offenses. During her detention, Bowman reported inadequate medical care and overcrowded conditions. Her attorney argued the prolonged detainment violated her constitutional rights, and her citizenship status remained legally disputed throughout her custody.

Wyoming sheriff's deputies arrest 70 undocumented immigrants in two months through ICE partnership

Nov 26, 2025Cheyenne, WY

Laramie County Sheriff Brian Kozak announced that his deputies, trained under a federal ICE program, have arrested approximately 70 undocumented immigrants in the Cheyenne area over two months. This includes 40 truck drivers arrested during a three-day sweep with ICE and Wyoming Highway Patrol, plus around 30 others pulled over by deputies and handed to ICE since October 1. Civil rights advocates question whether the enforcement is targeting the "worst of the worst" as promised or casting a wider net.

Woman held five months in ICE detention despite legal entry

Nov 26, 2025Jacksonville, FLVenezuela

Gabriela Lozano Sousa, a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. legally through a humanitarian parole program in 2023, has been detained by ICE for five months following a domestic dispute in October 2025 that resulted in no criminal charges. Despite entering legally and marrying a U.S. citizen in April 2025, ICE incorrectly classified her as an "arriving immigrants," subjecting her to mandatory detention without a bond hearing. Her attorneys argue the classification is legally incorrect and that she should be eligible for bond review as someone arrested within the country.

Native American woman nearly deported after traffic stop in Iowa

Nov 26, 2025Iowa

Leticia Jacobo, a 24-year-old Native American woman, was jailed in Iowa for a traffic infraction and faced potential transfer to an ICE Detention Center for deportation. Indigenous rights groups intervened to prevent her deportation.

American citizens detained for warning community about ICE agents

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Nov 26, 2025San Diego, CA

A person warned their community that ICE agents were staging outside houses and then parked at a trolley station to observe. When ICE agents returned to the station, they attempted to detain the person, who fled because the agents were masked and refused to identify themselves. The person claims to be an American citizen and states that other people were also detained at the scene.

San Diego shelters overwhelmed with pets surrendered after owners detained or deported

Nov 26, 2025San Diego, CA

San Diego Humane Society has taken in 18 pets from 11 owners since June 2025, operating at 173% capacity. Animals including Tita, a 4-year-old Chihuahua whose owners were deported, and Cata, a pit bull mix found in Mira Mesa after her owner's deportation, are among those left behind. The county Department of Animal Services has also received pets from deported individuals.

ICE detains Joel Andre, member of Maine soccer community

Nov 25, 2025TexasDR Congo

Joel Andre and his family were detained by ICE and held in a detention facility in Texas. The community is calling for legal assistance and urging elected officials Collins, King, and Pingree to help prevent his deportation.

New border wall construction threatens San Rafael Valley wildlife

Nov 25, 2025San Rafael Valley, AZ

A 27-mile segment of a 30-foot steel bollard wall is being constructed in Arizona's San Rafael Valley, an environmentally sensitive area that was spared during the first Trump administration. The Department of Homeland Security used federal waivers to expedite construction by eliminating environmental and procurement laws. Environmental groups warn the wall will reduce wildlife crossings by approximately 86% and threaten endangered cross-border species like jaguars.

Man charged with ramming ICE agent's van during St. Paul raid

Nov 25, 2025

Jeffrey Lopez-Suazo, 26, was arrested during an ICE raid on November 25 after allegedly ramming his vehicle into an ICE agent's van while attempting to flee. The raid drew hundreds of protesters who clashed with police and federal agents. Lopez-Suazo, seeking asylum from Honduras, was charged with assaulting an ICE agent and was subsequently held for immigration proceedings.

Two 16-year-old Venezuelan cousins detained in Detroit home raid, transferred to Texas facility

Nov 25, 2025Detroit, MIVenezuela

Two 16-year-old Venezuelan cousins were detained by immigration agents during a raid on their Detroit home in late November 2025. The teens, who arrived in the U.S. in 2023 and were formally seeking asylum with valid work permits, were taken into custody along with two of their parents while agents searched for a different individual. Both were students at Western International High School and had pending asylum cases scheduled for immigration court. They were transferred to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Texas, hundreds of miles from their support network. Community members, students, and advocates held a rally at Clark Park calling for their immediate release.

US citizen detained by Border Patrol at Cary construction site

Nov 24, 2025Cary, NC

Fernando Vazquez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen born in Raleigh, was detained by Border Patrol agents at a construction site in Cary, North Carolina on Tuesday. Despite showing his North Carolina Real ID, agents handcuffed and transported him before dropping him off a half mile away. The incident occurred during large-scale immigration enforcement operations in the Triangle area.

Gay married couple torn apart by ICE detention

Nov 24, 2025New York, New YorkCayman Islands

Allan Marrero, originally from the Cayman Islands, has been detained by ICE for 113 days following a marriage-based green card interview at Federal Plaza in New York City on November 24, 2025. His husband Matthew Marrero and advocates including clergy and legal counsel have been working to secure his release.

American Woman Released After 25 Days in ICE Custody

Nov 24, 2025MarylandPhilippines

Dulce Consuelo Morales Diaz, an American woman, was released after being held in ICE custody for 25 days. She was detained after speaking Spanish outside a restaurant in Maryland during what her attorney describes as a 'Kavanaugh Stop.' Despite evidence of her American birth, the government has disputed her citizenship claim and she remains at risk of deportation.

U.S. citizen high school student stopped by ICE officers

Nov 24, 2025Newberg, ORMexico

Christian Jimenez, 17, a U.S. citizen and high school senior born in Newberg, Oregon, was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers while driving his father's car around 12:30 p.m. during his lunch break. His older brother Cesar Jimenez reported the incident to media.

OU professor arrested by ICE at Will Rogers International Airport

Nov 23, 2025Norman, OKIran

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Vahid Abedini, an Iranian Studies professor at OU's College of International Studies, at Will Rogers International Airport on Saturday while he was boarding a flight to attend an academic conference in Washington, D.C. Abedini, who holds an H-1B visa for specialty occupation employment, was detained and later released Monday after being held for what DHS described as standard questioning.

19 immigrants deported to Ghana moved to unknown location

Nov 23, 2025GhanaGhana

According to an Instagram post citing AP News, 19 immigrants who were deported to Ghana were moved to an unknown location and cannot be reached by their families or attorneys.

OU professor with valid visa released after three-day ICE detention

Nov 23, 2025Norman, OK

Vahid Abedini, an OU College of International Studies professor with an employer-sponsored H-1B visa, was detained by ICE for three days after being stopped at Will Rogers Airport in November while preparing to travel to an academic conference. Federal authorities said the detention was for standard questioning, though Abedini was asked very few questions according to colleagues. He has since been released but remains fearful of retaliation and has limited his public comments about the incident.

ICE agents appear at asylum seeker's home despite pending green card

Nov 23, 2025

Thi Dua Vang and her family found asylum in the U.S. in 2023 and she applied for her green card, which is awaiting final approval. ICE agents showed up at her doorstep, which Vang believed to be a mistake given her pending legal status.

Border Patrol operation in Charlotte nets 370 arrests, impacts schools and businesses

Nov 23, 2025Charlotte, North Carolina

A weeklong Border Patrol operation in Charlotte in mid-November 2025 resulted in 370 arrests of undocumented immigrants through street patrols and vehicle document checks. The operation caused significant disruption: school attendance dropped 20% among public school children, and businesses closed during the enforcement period. Following the operation's conclusion on November 20, the immigrant community held protests. Most of those arrested are expected to be deported. Border Patrol agents subsequently deployed to target New Orleans.

Federal Judge Orders Release of Long-Term Resident from Immigration Detention

Nov 23, 2025Central Islip, NY

Edwin Josue Padilla Molina, who entered the U.S. in 2013 as a 14-year-old and has lived continuously in Central Islip for twelve years, was detained by ICE on November 23, 2025 while driving his pregnant partner and mother-in-law. A federal judge granted his habeas corpus petition and ordered his immediate release, finding that his detention without an individualized custody determination violated federal law and constitutional due process rights. The court rejected the government's argument that he was subject to mandatory detention, ruling instead that he was entitled to a bond hearing.

ICE detains asylum-seeking nephew of immigrant rights advocate

Nov 22, 2025Detroit, MISenegal

Mor Ba, a 19-year-old asylum seeker from Senegal, was detained by ICE on the morning before Thanksgiving while entering his car to go to work. Ba, who had no criminal record and was months away from his asylum hearing, was taken to the North Lake Processing Center in northwest Michigan. His aunt, Seydi Sarr, a Detroit-based immigrant rights advocate, learned of his detention when he called her from the ICE office and eventually posted a $10,000 bond for his release in January.

Oregon coalition reports ICE detained four U.S. citizens

Nov 22, 2025Portland, OR

Four U.S. citizens were detained by ICE in Oregon during sweeps in Yamhill County, according to Oregon for All coalition. Two detainees from McMinnville included a 17-year-old high school student. DHS stated the detentions involved obstruction of federal law enforcement officers.

25 Detainee Deaths in ICE Custody During Trump's Second Term

Nov 21, 2025Washington, D.C.

A letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons documents the deaths of Gabriel Garcia-Aviles and Ismael Ayala-Uribe at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in October and September 2025. As of November 2025, ICE has reported 25 detainee deaths since January 23, 2025. The letter raises questions about ICE's compliance with detention standards and medical care protocols.

ICE agents planned to 'smash' into Charlotte man documenting arrests

Nov 21, 2025Charlotte, NC

A federal judge is determining if ICE agents had probable cause to charge Miguel Angel Garcia Martinez, a U.S. citizen, with assault. Martinez fled from officers who began chasing him while he was documenting Border Patrol operations in Charlotte. Court video showed ICE agents planned to 'smash' into Martinez's vehicle during the chase.

U.S. Citizen High School Senior Detained by ICE in Oregon

Nov 21, 2025McMinnville, Oregon

Christian Jimenez, 17, a U.S. citizen and high school senior, was detained by ICE officers while driving off school grounds during lunch break in McMinnville. An officer broke the car's driver's side window and detained Jimenez despite him stating he was a U.S. citizen. He was transported to an ICE facility in South Portland and released shortly before 7 p.m. Authorities are attempting to charge his brother with obstruction of investigation.

Man detained in California City granted bond after 7 months

Nov 21, 2025California City, CA

Sam Behpoor, a restaurateur and manager of Pismo's Coastal Grill, was released on bond after being held in ICE custody for over eight months beginning June 23, 2025, when he attended an immigration interview. Behpoor had lost his green card following a 2004 non-aggravated burglary conviction and was detained while attempting to reinstate it. An immigration judge determined he did not pose a danger to the community or flight risk, allowing him to post bond and return home to his wife and toddler. The Governor had pardoned his 2004 conviction in November.

U.S. citizen high school student detained by ICE in Oregon sweep

Nov 21, 2025McMinnville, OR

On November 21, 2025, ICE agents detained Christian Jimenez, a 17-year-old U.S. citizen and McMinnville High School senior, during lunch break in Oregon. Despite asserting his citizenship, agents broke his car window and transported him to an ICE facility in South Portland before releasing him later that day. The detention was part of ICE sweeps in Yamhill County that week resulting in at least 7 total detentions, including at least 4 U.S. citizens. The incident occurred off school grounds but was witnessed by students in the area. A protest was held in response. The McMinnville School District confirmed increased ICE activity in the community while noting that agents have not entered school buildings.

Married father detained under ICE mandatory detention policy, accepted deportation to Mexico

Nov 21, 2025Memphis, TNMexico

Bryan Cuautle Romero, 29, a long-term U.S. resident married to a U.S. citizen with two U.S. citizen children, was detained at West Tennessee Detention Facility in Mason on November 21, 2025, after checking in at an ICE office. ICE invoked a mandatory detention policy for individuals without admission or inspection. Despite a subsequent Sixth Circuit Court ruling against the mandatory detention policy in May 2026, Bryan had already accepted voluntary deportation to Mexico with a final removal date of June 6, 2026. His wife Lauren plans to pursue an I-130 petition to bring him back to the United States.

East Boston man detained by ICE after courthouse arrest released on bond

Nov 21, 2025East Boston, MAColombia

Alejandro Orrego Agudelo, a 27-year-old Colombian asylum seeker, was arrested by Boston police on November 21 after a dispute over a parking space on Falcon Street in East Boston. He was charged with assault and battery on a police officer and released by a judge that same day at East Boston District Court. However, ICE agents arrested him in the courthouse lockup and detained him for four months at Plymouth County jail under the Laken Riley Act. After legal challenges including a habeas corpus petition and dismissal of criminal charges, an immigration judge granted him bond, and he was released.

ICE enforcement operations in Long Beach result in detentions

Nov 21, 2025Long Beach, CAMexico

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted enforcement operations in Long Beach on Thursday, resulting in at least nine detentions at workplaces. Mayor Rex Richardson and Supervisor Janice Hahn commented on the operations, with Richardson referencing a violent incident involving a gardener at a restaurant. DHS stated six people in the country without authorization from Mexico were arrested who had prior criminal histories.

RI judge intervenes after ICE wrongfully detains court intern

Nov 20, 2025Providence, RI

ICE agents detained a 16-year-old high school intern at the Licht Judicial Complex in Providence on November 20, 2025, after misidentifying the teenager as their target. Superior Court Judge Joseph J. McBurney intervened, and agents verified their information and released the intern. Governor Dan McKee and Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos issued statements regarding the incident.

Gardener Detained by ICE Claims Dual Citizenship; Mayor Calls Operation 'Abduction'

Nov 20, 2025Long Beach, CAColombia

Federal immigration agents detained a gardener in Long Beach's University Park Estates neighborhood on January 21, 2026, after he fled into a restaurant. The man claimed to be a dual citizen and showed agents an identification card during the detention. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson criticized the operation as an "abduction" and said it reflected "a pattern of enforcement rooted in fear and intimidation."

ICE Holds Landscaper Facing Deportation After Two Weeks

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Nov 20, 2025Phoenix, AZSyria

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been holding 23-year-old Eric Sebastian Ferrales, a Laveen landscaper who has lived in the United States since age 3, for two weeks. Although Ferrales lacks legal status, his family states the U.S. is the only country he has ever truly known. He now faces deportation proceedings.

San Diego taco shop owner detained by immigration authorities

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Nov 20, 2025San Diego, CAMexico

The longtime owner of La Playa Taco Shop, a well-known decades-old Mexican restaurant in Pacific Beach, San Diego, has been detained by federal immigration authorities and is facing possible deportation.

Autistic 16-year-old detained by ICE for 50 days after police encounter, judge orders release

Nov 20, 2025Houston, TXHonduras

Emmanuel Gonzalez-Garcia, a 16-year-old with autism, was separated from his mother Maria Garcia on October 4-5, 2025, while they were selling fruit as street vendors in Houston. After going missing, he was located by firefighters during a welfare check and told police he was homeless, providing a different name. Houston police turned him over to ICE, and he was placed in federal custody with the Office of Refugee Resettlement as an unaccompanied immigrant minor. After approximately 48-50 days in detention, a federal judge ruled that authorities lacked legal authority to detain him since he was not truly unaccompanied. He was reunited with his mother, though their immigration court cases remain pending.

Agents raid plaza, shoppers hide in fear

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Nov 20, 2025Los Angeles California

ICE conducted a raid at a Koreatown plaza in Los Angeles. A security guard at the location reported that approximately 10 people were detained during the operation. The guard stated that shoppers were present at businesses in the plaza including Speakeasy Fitness and Food 4 Less.

Border Patrol officer threatens legal observer with arrest for recording in Florida

Nov 20, 2025

A U.S. Border Patrol officer in Key Largo, Florida threatened to arrest a 64-year-old legal observer for following an unmarked CBP vehicle and recording the encounter. The observer, part of a local group monitoring immigration enforcement activity, was warned he would be arrested for allegedly impeding an investigation. Multiple federal circuit courts have upheld the First Amendment right to record police and federal agents, and civil liberties groups say such monitoring is protected activity.

18-year-old U.S. citizen detained by Border Patrol during NC workplace enforcement sweep

Nov 20, 2025NC

Fernando Vazquez, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by Border Patrol agents at his workplace in Cary, North Carolina on November 20, 2025, during a broader immigration enforcement sweep. Agents confiscated his wallet and personal belongings, including college and high school IDs and AirPods, before placing him in a vehicle. Vazquez asserted his First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendment rights during the detention. Agents released him after realizing their error, but he was left without his personal items. The incident occurred as part of enforcement operations that detained over 250 people in Charlotte during the same period.

ICE Loses Key Evidence Day After Being Sued

Nov 20, 2025Chicago, Illinois

ICE states that video footage from Broadview Detention Center was lost in a system crash on October 31, one day after the facility was sued on October 30 for allegedly abusing detainees. Two weeks of surveillance footage was reportedly destroyed. Government lawyers stated they lack resources to preserve surveillance footage.

ICE agents chase and tackle gardener at Long Beach restaurant

Nov 20, 2025Long Beach, CA

Federal immigration agents conducted enforcement operations at multiple locations in Long Beach on November 20, 2025, including at Polly's Pies restaurant where agents chased and tackled a gardener in front of Long Beach Police Department officers. Agents also arrested three people outside Cherry Donuts and were spotted at four additional locations throughout the morning.

ICE arrests woman holding baby at San Diego green card interview

Nov 20, 2025San Diego, CAUnited Kingdom

A British woman was arrested by ICE while holding her 5-month-old baby at her green card interview in San Diego on November 20, 2025. She spent five days in custody before being released with her green card approved on November 25. Multiple immigration attorneys noted that federal law provides exceptions for direct relatives of U.S. citizens undergoing adjustment of status.

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