Human Impact Project

Black residents of Memphis reported being stopped and questioned by the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal law enforcement surge authorized by President Trump. Incidents included a man stopped and questioned by armed federal agents, a ride-share driver pulled over for allegedly not wearing a seat belt, a pastor stopped, and a 72-year-old man removed from his home due to mistaken identity.

Hanover Park police officer Radule Bojovic, a Montenegrin citizen, was detained by ICE on October 15, 2025, as part of Operation Midway Blitz after overstaying his B2 tourist visa by approximately 10 years—he was supposed to leave in March 2015 but remained in the country unlawfully while serving as a sworn officer with firearm access. He was released on bond on October 31 after federal authorities did not contest the release, and returned to full duty shortly after. Village officials stated Bojovic was legally authorized to work and carry a firearm at the time of hire with no criminal history.

A 13-year-old Brazilian boy named Arthur was arrested by Massachusetts police on a violent threat allegation and immediately taken into ICE custody, leaving his mother Josiele Berto unable to retrieve him. The Department of Homeland Security claimed Arthur had an "extensive rap sheet" and possessed a firearm, but local officials confirmed no gun was found. Arthur was transferred from Massachusetts to Virginia without notice to his family or attorney. A federal court petition was filed arguing his detention violates due process. His mother, whose family has a pending asylum application, can only communicate with him through brief phone calls.

A long-time employee of Hojas Tea House was detained Tuesday morning while taking out the trash at its Wilmington location, according to a post the concept shared on its Instagram account. According to the post, Eloy was part of Hojas Tea House for 12 years.

Four U.S. citizen cemetery workers at Concordia Cemetery were arrested and subjected to pepper balls and pepper spray during an ICE operation that crossed onto private property. The workers were detained for hours before being released without charges. Forest Park Mayor Rory Hoskins made statements regarding the operation and requested its termination.

US Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle driven by a person in the country illegally and used a precision immobilization technique that caused the vehicle to crash into other cars on Chicago's far southeast side. The incident led to a confrontation with federal agents at the scene.

Maria Greeley, a 44-year-old U.S. citizen and Chicago resident, was detained by federal immigration agents outside her workplace despite carrying documentation proving her citizenship. The agents restrained her with zip ties and questioned her passport. The incident occurred amid increased federal enforcement operations.

Border Patrol agents pursued a vehicle for 18 minutes through Chicago's East Side neighborhood on October 14, 2025, ignoring supervisor orders to stop the chase. The vehicle crashed after agents blew a tire, not from an authorized immobilization technique as DHS claimed. Following the crash, an agent pointed his weapon at bystanders in a nearby Walgreens, claiming they charged at him despite video evidence contradicting this account.

A federal immigration enforcement operation on Chicago's East Side resulted in a vehicle crash, pursuit, and confrontation at a Walgreens store. Federal agents tackled and arrested 19-year-old Warren King, a U.S. citizen, during the operation. When a crowd gathered to protest, federal agents deployed tear gas, exposing 13 Chicago police officers to the gas.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers use a full-body restraint device called the WRAP during deportations.

Victor Cruz, a longtime Hillsboro resident with legal work authorization and a pending visa claim, was arrested by ICE on October 14 and detained in Tacoma, Washington. Democratic political leaders, his family, and his attorney stated he was unlawfully detained. A federal district court judge released Cruz on bond on Friday after an immigration judge had denied bail.

Ali Faqirzada, 31, fled Afghanistan in 2021 and has been waiting for his asylum case to be decided since 2022. On October 14, ICE detained Ali after an Asylum Officer found he had a viable claim for asylum. Ali fled Afghanistan after he and his family received death threats from Taliban members. Every member of Ali's family, including his parents and siblings, have been granted asylum. Ali was the last family member waiting for a decision on his immigration case. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) terminated the application and instead placed Ali in expedited removal proceedings. Ali passed an initial screening by an Asylum Officer. ICE subsequently arrested and jailed him. ICE has the authority to immediately release Ali to continue his immigration case.

ICE and Border Patrol agents threatened to arrest a Chicago cyclist who was following and recording them. The incident was captured on video and shared by a Chicago Tribune journalist. Community members intervened with whistles, which appeared to cause the agents to back away from the cyclist.

Five people were detained during a raid on September 13, 2025 at 9:55 AM in Long Beach at 577 E Wardlow Rd. The detained individuals included migrants, citizens, and legal residents. Carwash owners and construction site operators were advised to install protective fencing around their work sites and properties.

Fidel Rivera, an undocumented immigrant who worked in construction in North Carolina for over 20 years, self-deported to Mexico on October 13, 2025, to avoid potential immigration detention. His family, including his U.S. citizen wife and two daughters, are spending the holidays separated as Rivera must remain in Mexico for at least 10 years before he can reapply for legal status.

ICE is operating deportation flights out of Mesa Gateway Airport to African countries, with a 16-seater jet making multiple trips. The flights are part of third-country deportation efforts where migrants—including those not from Africa—are being deported to African nations. Individual flights cost up to $10,000, with charter companies receiving contracts worth tens to hundreds of millions of dollars.

A 5-year-old autistic child in a CoreCivic detention facility has not had a bowel movement in 11 days, resulting in severe abdominal swelling and loss of appetite. The child lacks proper pediatric evaluation despite the serious medical condition.

A 13-year-old Brazilian boy with a pending asylum case was arrested by ICE in Everett after an interaction with local police and transferred to a juvenile detention facility in Winchester, Virginia. His mother was told she could pick him up from the Everett Police Department but was informed ICE had taken him instead. A federal judge ordered the government to justify the arrest by October 14 or provide a bond hearing by October 17.

A car fleeing from U.S. Border Patrol agents crashed on West Paisano Drive in El Paso, killing two migrants from Guatemala and Mexico. The 2011 Infiniti G37 lost control on a curve, hit a curb and flipped after the driver attempted to flee following a border crossing. Four other passengers were injured in the rollover crash.

An 18-year-old girl in Hoffman Estates was forcibly removed from a vehicle and thrown to the ground by what appeared to be a federal agent during a weekend enforcement operation. She and two friends were detained for hours before being released. Her parents are demanding accountability and taking legal action, while there is confusion about which agency was responsible for the arrest.

A 15-year-old boy with autism and special needs, Emmanuel González Garcia, went missing on October 4, 2025, after wandering away from his mother Maria García's fruit stand in Houston. Houston Police Department located him the next day but did not connect him with the existing missing person report due to a name discrepancy (Manuel vs. Emmanuel). HPD contacted ICE and transferred the boy to federal immigration custody. García was without knowledge of her son's whereabouts for nearly a week until an immigration attorney intervened. The teen is now in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody and is facing emergency appendix surgery. An investigation into the Houston Police Department's procedures was initiated following the incident.

The Trump administration is resuming use of Irwin County Detention Center in Georgia to detain immigrants. A 2022 Senate investigation found that female detainees experienced excessive, invasive, and often unnecessary gynecological procedures without proper informed consent. The Biden administration had halted immigrant detentions at the facility in 2021.

A federal judge in Illinois issued a temporary restraining order blocking federal agents from using tear gas, pepper balls, and excessive force against protesters demonstrating outside an ICE detention facility near Chicago. The order was prompted by video of Reverend David Black, a Presbyterian pastor in clerical garb, being repeatedly struck with pepper balls and chemical spray while peacefully praying during a protest at the Broadview facility.

Chicago TV producer for WGN-TV, Debbie Brockman, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on Friday in a residential area during immigration enforcement operations. A federal judge had issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS agents from arresting journalists without probable cause. Brockman was released from federal custody the same day with no charges filed against her.

Two women were arrested by ICE agents in front of an elementary school near the University of Illinois at Chicago campus on the West Side. DHS accused the women of stalking an ICE vehicle and attempting to impede a targeted operation. Officers forcibly removed one woman from her car, and the incident was recorded on video.

The Trump administration has stopped publishing semiannual reports on pregnant, postpartum, and lactating women in ICE detention. Multiple experts and advocates report increases in pregnant detainees held in ICE facilities with inadequate medical care, nutrition, and hygiene. Cases documented include pregnant women denied prenatal visits, adequate meals, and proper medical treatment while detained at ICE facilities.

A 16-year-old autistic boy named Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia was detained by ICE in Houston and held in custody for over a month. A local organization is providing assistance to the detainee.

An 18-year-old U.S. citizen was detained by ICE agents on October 10, 2025, in Hoffman Estates along with two others. Video footage shows agents pulling the teenager from a car and restraining her on the ground. The detainees were released without charges after a few hours.

ICE agents detained the parents of U.S. Marine Steve Rios at Camp Pendleton on September 28 while they were attempting to visit his pregnant sister. The couple was initially released with ankle monitors but detained again when they checked in with ICE days later. The father, Esteban Rios, was deported on Friday, while the family says they have pending green card applications and work visas.

A veteran and U.S. citizen was detained by ICE. During detention, the individual was placed on suicide watch in a cell wearing a hospital dress on a concrete bed with a thin mattress. The cell had a light on continuously and officers were stationed outside with a glass door. A psychiatric nurse conducted one check per day. The individual was held in these conditions from Friday morning to Sunday afternoon when released.

Federal officers took three people into custody outside the South Portland ICE facility on Thursday night during a protest against Trump administration immigration policies. The reasons for the federal arrests were not immediately clear. Portland police also arrested two people at the facility on separate charges.

Law enforcement officers clashed with protesters outside an ICE detention facility in suburban Chicago on October 10. State police used batons and arrested three anti-ICE protesters who were demonstrating outside the facility. The incident occurred as protesters chanted slogans while officers confronted them with force.

Sunny Naqvi, a U.S. citizen from Evanston, was detained by ICE at O'Hare Airport after traveling to Bulgaria, Austria, and Turkey. She was held without charges or notification to her family about her whereabouts, and was released at 5am in Wisconsin with no way to contact loved ones. TSA shares flight lists with ICE.

ICE agents stopped Rueben Antonio Cruz, a 60-year-old lawful permanent resident from El Salvador, in Rogers Park and ticketed him $130 for not having his proof of permanent resident registration with him. Though agents verified his legal status through their databases, they issued the citation anyway, requiring him to pay within 60 days or appear in court. The incident occurred under Operation Midway Blitz.

Panchos Tacos in Mount Vernon, Ohio closed in early October 2025 after an ICE operation resulted in the arrest of five undocumented immigrants who were employees at the restaurant. After five months of closure, the restaurant reopened on March 3, 2026, with support from the local community.

Federal immigration enforcement agents have been documented driving unmarked vehicles without required license plates in Chicago and surrounding areas since September 2025. The Sun-Times identified four such vehicles operating from an ICE facility in Broadview, with agents wearing masks and no identifying badges. Civil rights advocates have expressed concerns about accountability and public safety. DHS states the vehicles comply with federal regulations.

ICE agents conducted an enforcement action at West Loop Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois during afternoon school pickup. Thirteen masked agents surrounded a car and removed two sisters who were DACA recipients and were eventually released after proving their legal status. One sister, Jocelyn, stated the agents did not have a warrant. The driver of the vehicle was also the other sister. A teacher exiting an Uber at the time recorded video of the incident after hearing children screaming.

José Medina, a 35-year-old tamal vendor, was arrested by immigration authorities on October 8, 2025, while selling tamales at a 7-Eleven in San Pedro. After his detention, his family feared additional raids and stayed home with 720 unsold tamales. Community members, including artist Rubén Ochoa and his girlfriend, mobilized to sell the tamales through personal deliveries. Medina signed a deportation order and was in Tijuana by October 10, leaving his family behind.

José Medina, a 35-year-old tamal vendor and father of four, was arrested by immigration authorities while selling tamales at a San Pedro 7-Eleven on October 8, 2025. His family, fearful of additional raids, stayed home and could not sell 720 prepared tamales. Community members and local artist Rubén Ochoa mobilized to purchase and distribute the tamales, successfully selling all inventory by end of day. Medina signed a deportation order and has been in Tijuana since October 10.

Federal immigration officers entered the Brooklyn home of Hayk Safaryan, a 44-year-old Armenian immigrant, without a judicial warrant or consent and detained him while seizing his personal documents. According to court testimony from his wife, officers conducted a warrantless search and arrest. A federal habeas lawsuit challenges the legality of the arrest, claiming violations of constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

A federal judge in Chicago ruled that ICE illegally arrested 22 people without warrants in violation of a 2022 consent decree during enforcement operations in January 2025. The judge extended the consent decree and ordered ICE to reimburse bond payments and lift release conditions for those arrested. ICE has escalated enforcement operations in Chicago, including the detention of a family at Millennium Park in September.

Pregnant immigrants without permanent legal status are avoiding prenatal care and medical facilities due to fear of ICE deportation enforcement. Medical providers report increased pregnancy complications, including untreated gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and undiagnosed fetal anomalies, as patients skip appointments and some opt for home births. The Trump administration expanded immigration enforcement and rescinded hospital protections. A Biden-era directive addressed detention of pregnant women.

Vicente Ventura Aguilar, a 44-year-old Mexican immigrant without lawful status, was detained by immigration authorities on October 7 during a raid in South Los Angeles and has been missing for over six weeks. A witness reported that Aguilar suffered a medical emergency while in custody near the border on October 8, but the Department of Homeland Security claims he was never in their custody. His family and attorneys have been unable to locate him despite searching hospitals, morgues, and the local police department.

ICE agents have detained immigrants attending routine USCIS appointments for permanent residency status at the Fresno office. Alejandro Suarez was detained on October 7 despite having current immigration paperwork and an approved petition. Multiple cases documented in early October show ICE intercepting individuals during interviews, including long-term residents and those married to U.S. citizens with no criminal records. Attorneys and advocacy groups have reported on this enforcement activity.

Yaa'kub Ira Vijandre, a 38-year-old DACA recipient and Filipino immigrant, was detained by ICE on October 7, 2025, after his DACA status was terminated citing social media posts. Vijandre, a freelance journalist and activist in the Dallas area, had spoken out against the Gaza war, ICE detention conditions, and human rights abuses. His attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition arguing his detention violates his First and Fifth Amendment rights, as his speech constitutes protected political expression rather than support for terrorism.

An 84-year-old couple, including a Vietnam veteran, were violently pushed to the ground by federal officers during a peaceful protest at an ICE facility in Portland. The woman sustained a concussion from the assault. The couple had spontaneously joined the neighborhood protest after seeing the rally from their home.

U.S. citizens, including Latinos, were detained during Trump's immigration enforcement operations in the Chicago area. Detainees reported being assaulted by officers who questioned them about their birthplace. The incident occurred when Diego Rosales was stopped by ICE agents while waiting for a school bus in Waukegan.

Willian Giménez González, who is suing a group of off-duty police officers for harassment and abuse of day laborers at a Home Depot in Chicago, was detained and taken into ICE custody. His lawyer states the timing suggests the detention may be related to his lawsuit.

Activists have organized a daily sit-in at an ICE hold room in Fredrick, Colorado, following revelations that the facility held over 500 individuals from January to October 2025. An investigation found that detainees, including children as young as 6 years old, were held for periods far exceeding ICE's own 72-hour limit, with one individual detained for 34 days. Colorado's congressional delegation has demanded ICE immediately stop holding people in these temporary holding spaces for extended periods.

The Trump administration laid off hundreds of civil rights oversight staff at the Department of Homeland Security, including employees from the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman and Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The staff cuts coincide with a major expansion of ICE detention capacity. Former workers stated that this results in insufficient oversight of detention conditions.