Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Elmer Flores on March 9 after he dropped off his pregnant wife and children at a Mecklenburg County health office for a nutrition program appointment. According to advocacy group Siembra NC, Flores had no criminal record and is being held at a detention facility in Georgia.
A Venezuelan immigrant detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection near the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel attempted to take his life by hanging himself in early March 2025. CBP officers intervened and transported him to a hospital for evaluation before transferring him to ICE custody on March 15. The incident is part of a larger pattern where advocates report 213 immigrants were detained in Detroit between January and March 2025, with approximately 90% having accidentally taken the wrong lane onto the Ambassador Bridge or tunnel while attempting to return to the U.S.
A family of four—two parents and children ages 1 and 2—were found huddled under a tree after spending many hours lost in woods while attempting to cross from New York into Quebec in March 2025. Unprepared for winter conditions, the parents lost their shoes and hiked barefoot in snow while their children lacked cold-weather gear. The mother called 911 after several hours in freezing conditions, and the family was rescued by local authorities at approximately 4:15 a.m. All four were treated for hypothermia at a hospital and have since requested refugee status with Canadian authorities.
Jose Guadalupe Jaimes, a 55-year-old Mexican national who had lived in the United States for 30 years, was arrested by ICE outside Arthur Middle School in Trenton, Michigan, after dropping off his eighth-grade son, who has Asperger's syndrome. Jaimes owns a painting business and has a valid work permit with no criminal record. His children, Ana and Hector (a college junior), described him as a devoted father who emphasized education and built a life in metro Detroit with his wife and five children. According to his son Hector, ICE agents approached with guns drawn during the arrest; an ICE agent reportedly told Jaimes, "I don't even know why you're here because you have no record, you didn't do anything bad." An ICE spokesman stated Jaimes had been "ordered removed by an immigration judge in 2014." He is being held in St. Clair County Jail pending immigration proceedings. His family expressed deep concern about surviving financially and emotionally without him.
Gustavo Alfonso Garcia Olivares, a 24-year-old Venezuelan migrant, drowned in the Rio Grande near the U.S.-Mexico border and was buried in Eagle Pass, Texas. His parents in Venezuela watched the funeral service via livestream. The burial was the first funeral service organized by Border Vigil, a human rights organization, for a migrant who died crossing the border.
The Trump administration is reviving the practice of detaining migrant families with children in ICE custody, with the first group including three children detained at a facility in Texas. The move reverses Biden administration policy. Two Texas detention centers in Karnes City and Dilley are being refitted to house families with minors.
A father was detained by ICE on March 6th and is being held in Canyon County with a hearing scheduled for April 10th. His family is seeking $5,000 in financial assistance to cover mortgage, legal fees, groceries, and other expenses while he is in custody.
Jensy Machado, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents on March 5, 2025, while driving to work in Manassas. The agents were searching for another man with a deportation order who had provided Machado's home address. Machado was handcuffed and questioned about his immigration status before being released after showing his driver's license.
Issa Salma Baouna, a 49-year-old green-card holder from Niger, was denied reentry to the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 6 after CBP determined he was inadmissible due to a prior removal order from 2022. Baouna had been ordered removed following an arrest for assault and visa overstay, and was paroled back into the country multiple times in 2023. After voluntarily returning to Niger, he contracted malaria that led to kidney failure. His wife left the U.S. with their two children to reunite with him.
ICE agents detained an employee at a Minneapolis business owned by Nesta Rodriguez. Rodriguez spoke to Sky News about the incident.
Jhoan Bastidas, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, was deported from the United States and detained for 16 days at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being transferred to Venezuela. During his detention, he was confined to a small cell, shackled when leaving the cell, allowed sunlight only three days per week, and had minimal access to food, books, or activities. The U.S. government alleged Bastidas was a member of the Tren de Aragua gang based on his chest tattoos, a claim he denied. He has since returned to his hometown in Maracaibo and begun working at a hot dog stand.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kalispell, with support from Spokane Border Patrol, conducted a worksite operation at a construction site in Bigfork on March 4, 2025. Acting on a tip, agents served a notice of inspection and encountered 17 undocumented immigrants. All 17 were taken into custody and found ineligible to remain in the United States.
Former ICE Acting Chief of Staff Deborah Fleischaker testified before Congress about operational challenges in immigration enforcement and the limitations of technology. She noted that actual removal and arrest numbers have declined compared to Fiscal Year 2024 averages, despite increased enforcement efforts and resources under the Trump Administration.
Bryan David Tasiguano Leon, an Ecuadorian citizen, was arrested by ICE on March 4, 2025, following his release from NYPD custody despite an ICE detainer request. He had been arrested by NYPD on February 14, 2026, on suspicion of assault. An immigration judge issued a final deportation order against him on February 27, 2025, and federal authorities designated him a public safety risk. He is scheduled for deportation to Ecuador.
A man went to the Broadview ICE facility searching for his wife of five years after she was taken to another room during a court hearing and disappeared. He tracked her phone to the facility but the signal cut off, and police offered no assistance in locating her.
Quebec Vasquez, a DACA-protected mother of three U.S. citizen children, announced plans to self-deport to Mexico due to fears about rapidly changing immigration policies under the Trump administration. Despite being protected from deportation through DACA for 10 years, she cited uncertainty and fear about her family's future as reasons for considering leaving the United States.
Kamal Morales, a counselor at Community Healthcare Network South Bronx clinic, was detained on March 2 during a routine immigration appearance and subsequently deported to Venezuela after 12 years out of the country. He was held in detention centers across five different states before deportation. Community members in the South Bronx and Queens are rallying in support.
In Maryland, a federal agent sitting outside a church, waiting for the target of his operation to leave his house, acknowledged to journalists that they could never have conducted such an operation before the sensitive locations policy was rescinded.
By March 2025, Krome North Service Processing Center held more than three times its operational capacity of about 580 people, with approximately 1,677 detained per day. Men reported cells designed for 66 holding up to 155 people, sleeping on floor mattresses and makeshift cots. 'There were mattresses everywhere. You couldn't walk without stepping over someone,' one man said. In April, staff erected a tent structure roughly 200 by 130 feet on the sports field. One man reported being denied access to soap or water for 20 consecutive days. People improvised bedding from polystyrene food trays and used shoes as pillows. By late May, broken air conditioning left 70 men with a single small fan. As of June 20, over 56 percent of Krome detainees had no criminal conviction or pending charge.
Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old permanent resident and Columbia University undergraduate, was pursued by ICE in March 2025 following her arrest for trespassing at a pro-Palestine demonstration on Barnard College campus in early 2025, for which she paid a fine. ICE searched her dorm room and her parents' home but did not locate her. She filed suit against the Trump Administration alleging violation of her First Amendment rights. On June 5, 2025, U.S. District Judge Naomi Buchwald issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting ICE from arresting or detaining Chung and rejected the government's motion to dismiss, noting that ICE failed to issue her a notice to appear in immigration court. Chung subsequently returned to court on May 29, 2025, seeking to consolidate the protective order while her constitutional case proceeds.
The Trump Administration has reopened family detention centers in Texas and is detaining immigrant families, including some who have been living in the United States for years. Legal advocates report that children in these facilities are experiencing hunger, sleep deprivation, and psychological distress. The government is potentially planning to detain thousands more at military bases like Fort Bliss.
A Pasco mechanic and father of three was arrested by a federal immigration agent on his way to work in March 2025. He may have been targeted because of a 2020 DUI charge and minor resolved traffic violations. A federal work permit he had previously applied for was approved while he was detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. After months in detention, he was deported to central Mexico in June 2025.
Margarita Avila, a 50-year-old mother of five, has been held in an immigrant detention center since March 2025 as the Trump administration prepares to deport her to Belize, a country she left two decades ago due to threats to her family. Her two youngest sons, Isaac, 12, and Jeremiah, 10, attended a Mother's Day service at a Pentecostal church where children were called forward to greet their mothers—but no one came for Isaac and Jeremiah. Her husband, José Avila, wept during the service as he watched his sons struggle with their mother's prolonged detention. Margarita is among tens of thousands of immigrants targeted for deportation under the Trump administration's stated goal of deporting 1 million immigrants annually.
In March 2025, Franklin County Jail detained an immigrant for 12 hours after he posted bond to allow ICE agents to arrest him, according to reporting from the Columbus Dispatch. Sheriff Dallas Baldwin, a Democrat, stated his office has a policy against honoring ICE's civil immigration detention requests, but acknowledged his staff did not follow policy in this case. The Dispatch reported multiple cases where immigrants were held by the jail on ICE detainers. Ohio Immigrant Alliance Executive Director Lynn Tramonte stated this was not an isolated incident and that immigration lawyers have documented numerous similar cases, characterizing the jail's cooperation with ICE as systemic rather than anomalous.
Val, a Mexican national, was apprehended during a Department of Homeland Security check-in in March and deported under expedited removal, leaving behind his 7-year-old son Alex and partner Renee in Baltimore. The deportation is one of thousands of ICE enforcement actions in Maryland under the Trump administration—arrests surged 165% compared with 2024—causing widespread anxiety and stress among immigrant families in the region.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestine student leader who is a lawful permanent resident, was detained by immigration agents at his campus residence in March 2025. A federal appellate court reversed a lower court's decision releasing him in January 2026, and he remains in ICE detention as of the article date.
Javier Hernandez, a cooperating witness prepared to testify in a federal methamphetamine case in California, was deported to Mexico by ICE in March 2025 without notifying prosecutors. The 2015 case involved nearly 22 pounds of methamphetamine discovered in a vehicle; without Hernandez's testimony linking the defendants to the smuggling operation, both co-defendants were acquitted of all charges. U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder noted ICE did not consult with Los Angeles prosecutors before removing him from the country.
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Juan was detained on January 12 and deported in March, separating him from his 2-year-old daughter in Oregon and his 10-year-old daughter in Colombia. His partner Verónica is now struggling to pay for rent, food, diapers, and medical expenses for his daughter's heart surgery.
A.G., a Venezuelan national with Temporary Protected Status and a pending asylum application, was detained by ICE agents during a traffic stop in Orange County while driving to work. Despite holding a valid driver's license, work permit, and Social Security card, he was handcuffed and held in ICE custody for several days. During detention, ICE repeatedly pressured him to self-deport. He was released on his own recognizance with assistance from Rep. Anna Eskamani and legal advocates.
Jacqueline, a Guatemalan immigrant who has lived in the U.S. for a decade, became pregnant while her husband was detained after a traffic stop and subsequently deported to Guatemala in March 2025. Left without income, transportation, or support, and fearful of ICE enforcement under the Trump administration, Jacqueline avoided leaving her home during her later pregnancy despite the risks. A local nonprofit clinic arranged and paid for Uber rides to enable her to continue prenatal appointments. Her 8-year-old U.S. citizen daughter and unborn child were left vulnerable as the family lost its primary provider and support system.
Sergio Garcia, a Mexican chef, was deported by ICE in March 2025 after 36 years living in the United States. Garcia had no criminal record besides a two-decade-old deportation order for illegal re-entry from 1989. He was apprehended while loading his food truck. His deportation separated him from his four U.S.-born adult children and wife. After deportation, he was held captive in Mexico and faced violence in Chiapas.
Antonio Velez-Lopez, a 69-year-old Colombian citizen and former priest, was sentenced to one year in prison for passport fraud and stripped of his U.S. citizenship. He had been convicted of sexually abusing a child from 2003 to 2009 while serving as the child's priest, and had falsified information on his permanent residency, citizenship, and passport applications to conceal his crimes. He was ordered to be deported to Colombia after completing his prison sentence.
Lewelyn Dixon, a 64-year-old green card holder and University of Washington lab technician, was detained by ICE on February 28, 2025, after returning from the Philippines, following discovery of a 2000 embezzlement conviction by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Dixon had lived legally in the United States for over 50 years and completed restitution on her conviction in 2019. She is currently held at the Northwest ICE Detention Facility and is not bond eligible, with her first hearing scheduled for July 17. Her family and supporters have called for her release.
ICE agents detained Francisco Andrade-Berrera, a 37-year-old Mexican citizen, outside Soto High School in Chicago's Gage Park neighborhood on Wednesday morning while he was dropping off children. Two students were in the vehicle at the time; school staff escorted them into the building. Andrade-Berrera had prior convictions and had been deported twice previously.
From January to December 2025, ICE detained 265 minors with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and deported 132 of them. SIJS, created in 1990, provides a pathway to citizenship for minors who are victims of abuse, abandonment, or neglect and previously shielded them from deportation during green card applications. The Trump administration ended deferred action protections for SIJS recipients in June 2025, though that policy is currently on hold in court. DHS stated the 132 deported faced immigration violations, though federal data did not disclose whether any faced criminal charges.
Nicolas Rodriguez was taken into ICE custody on May 15 and is being held at Otay Mesa Detention Center. The landscaping business owner, who has lived in the US for over 35 years and has three American citizen children, is facing deportation after ICE reopened his immigration case. He will be ordered this week to either request voluntary departure to Mexico or accept a deportation order.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested Emine and Celal Emanet, owners of Jersey Kebab restaurant in Haddon Township, New Jersey on February 25, 2025. The couple, who came from Turkey nearly two decades ago on visas, had fallen out of legal status and were being detained by ICE. Celal Emanet was released with an ankle monitor, while his wife remains in ICE custody awaiting a bond hearing scheduled for mid-March.
Activists in Southern California distributed flyers revealing the names, photos, and personal information of ICE and HSI agents, with the flyers written in Spanish and posted in Los Angeles neighborhoods. Federal authorities, including the DHS and FBI, condemned the action and launched an investigation, warning that those responsible could face legal consequences for obstructing law enforcement operations.
Genry Ruiz Guillén, a 29-year-old Honduran man, died in ICE custody at Krome detention center in Florida on January 23, 2025. In December 2024, during a phone call from the detention center, he told his mother three times that he was about to faint and that he did not feel well; she was unable to contact him after that call. His mother traveled to the detention center seeking information about his whereabouts and was notified of his death by ICE authorities weeks later. His body was repatriated to Honduras. Ruiz Guillén was one of seven migrants who died in ICE custody during the first three months of Trump's presidency.
Juan Alexis Tineo-Martinez, a 44-year-old Dominican man, died on February 23, 2025, after three days in ICE custody in Puerto Rico. He was taken into ICE custody following a maritime interdiction and was treated at Centro Medico Hospital. His suspected cause of death was hemorrhagic stroke. He was one of seven migrants who died in ICE custody during the first three months of Trump's presidency.
A 33-year-old Guatemalan man was returned to the United States in June 2025 after a federal judge ordered his reinstatement following an unlawful deportation. Despite an immigration judge's February 2025 order barring his removal, ICE deported him to Mexico two days later, violating due process protections. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy criticized the action as "blatant lawlessness" and ordered his return. He was granted withholding of removal after demonstrating he would face serious harm in Guatemala.
Federal agents pepper-sprayed and tackled 80-year-old defense attorney Doug Hayes during a confrontation in Santa Barbara on February 21st. Hayes had approached agents who were detaining a man in his 20s, concerned for the detainee's safety, and was sprayed when he tried to help. Hayes was not arrested or charged and has expressed interest in pursuing legal action against the agents.
Gladys and Nelson Gonzalez, who had resided in the United States for 35 years, were arrested and deported to Colombia in February 2025 after being detained by ICE during a routine immigration court check-in in Santa Ana, California. The couple entered without authorization in 1989 and had a 2000 deportation order. They maintained clean criminal records and had complied with regular check-ins throughout their time in the country. They had three U.S. citizen daughters and were involved in church work and volunteering. They were held for three weeks before deportation.
Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian man who fled Russia's invasion of Ukraine, was arrested on a domestic battery charge in January 2025 and transferred to ICE custody at Krome North Service Processing Center in southwest Miami-Dade County on February 2. On February 18, he suffered a stroke; Krome staff delayed calling 911 for over 40 minutes despite his seizures and non-responsive state. He was transported to HCA Florida Kendall Hospital where doctors confirmed a hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. He died two days later. Medical experts who reviewed records said the delayed emergency response and treatment of his symptoms as intoxication fell below standard of care and may have contributed to his death.
Maksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian man who entered the U.S. legally under a humanitarian parole program in August 2024, was arrested in January 2025 following an assault charge and placed in ICE custody at Krome detention center in Miami. In the days before his death, Chernyak reported fever, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and blood in his stool, but was not seen by a doctor for several days and his elevated blood pressure went untreated. On February 18, 2025, while in an overcrowded hold room with approximately 30 other people, he experienced a severe medical crisis—suffering multiple seizures, vomiting blood, and becoming unresponsive. When cellmates screamed for help, staff took 15 to 20 minutes to respond and initially accused him of drug use; toxicology reports later confirmed he had not been intoxicated. He was transported to a hospital where he was declared brain dead and died two days later. His wife said he had been in good health before detention and was pressured to sign documents without a translator.
Mayfreed Durán Arapé, a Venezuelan barber, was detained in July 2023 on his third border crossing attempt and convicted in August 2023 of assaulting a federal officer during a riot at an El Paso immigration detention center. On February 8, 2025, he was transferred without explanation to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base along with more than 170 other Venezuelan men. During his two-week detention at Guantanamo, Durán Arapé alleges he was beaten by guards, denied access to attorneys and family calls, provided inadequate food and water, and stripped of bedding as punishment. He attempted suicide twice and provided photos of bruising and self-harm scars. On February 20, 2025, he was deported to Venezuela. The Trump administration claimed the detainees were members of Tren de Aragua, though court documents show nearly 30% had no criminal records and the government provided no evidence against Durán Arapé.
Jose Daniel Simancas, a 30-year-old Venezuelan construction worker, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in May 2024 with his wife and cousin and was detained in El Paso while awaiting deportation. On February 4, 2025, he was transferred to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base along with nine other migrants, despite having no criminal history except unauthorized entry. The Department of Homeland Security identified him as a member of Tren de Aragua based on his birthplace and tattoos, which he denied. During his 15 days at Guantanamo, Simancas reported inhumane conditions including minimal food, isolation, and only two showers. He was deported to Honduras on February 20, 2025, along with 176 other Venezuelan nationals. His family was denied information about his whereabouts throughout his nine-month detention.
As a result of the Trump administration's zero tolerance family separation policy announced in May, numerous infants and toddlers as young as 1 year old are being placed in immigration court deportation proceedings without access to court-appointed lawyers. Children are expected to navigate complex legal processes despite their age and developmental inability to understand proceedings. Non-profit organizations and pro bono lawyers attempt to fill the representation gap, but minors are not entitled to government-funded counsel. The administration has refused to disclose the exact number of children separated from their parents since June 26, when an initial estimate of 2,047 separated children was provided.
Sering Ceesay, a Gambian man with serious heart conditions, was detained by ICE on February 19, 2025, after showing up for a routine immigration appointment in New York City. He was shackled and transferred to the Batavia facility, where he went two weeks without his heart medications. He subsequently suffered a stroke-like syndrome. A physician noted that without strict adherence to his medications, he faced risk of recurrent heart attacks, worsening peripheral artery disease, and strokes. A U.S. District Judge later ordered his release.
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