HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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3932 incidents with known locations
⚐ Highlighted incident #11507 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

Asylum-seeking teen deported to El Salvador twice despite court orders

Sep 1, 2025LAEl Salvador

A 19-year-old man identified only as ELA was deported to El Salvador this week while detained at a Louisiana immigration facility awaiting a psychological evaluation for his asylum case, according to his attorneys. It was the second time this year he was removed from the U.S. in violation of court orders protecting a class of young asylum seekers who sued in 2019 for the right to have their claims heard while remaining in the country. He had previously been deported earlier this year but was returned to the Louisiana detention center after attorneys confirmed his class membership. A federal judge ordered the government to explain the removal and how it plans to rectify the error, and the Justice Department said it only learned of his removal after being alerted by class attorneys.

U.S. citizen thrown to ground, detained for hours by ICE in Passaic, NJ

Aug 27, 2026Passaic, NJ

Brandon Domena, a lifelong Passaic County, New Jersey resident and U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents for about five hours after a confrontation broke out while he and his family watched agents arrest a neighbor, reportedly a Mexican man wanted for domestic violence. Video showed agents in tactical gear restraining Domena face-down on a lawn and handcuffing him, with a witness saying his arm was nearly dislocated; he says he was left with bruises and marks on his hands. Domena said he repeatedly told agents he was a U.S. citizen, believes he was racially profiled, and was denied water, a restroom, medical attention and a phone call during his detention. DHS alleges he spit at and kicked an officer and was arrested on potential charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal officers, but he has not been criminally charged. He disputes DHS's account, says an agent later apologized to him, was released the same day, and has hired a lawyer.

Ecuadoran man arrested amid Danbury school bus stop controversy

Aug 26, 2026Danbury, CTEcuador

DHS said ICE arrested 28-year-old Ecuadoran national Leonel Geovanny Morocho-Arteaga during a targeted operation in Danbury, Connecticut, on August 26, 2026, disputing advocates' claims that the arrest took place near a school bus stop. The agency said Morocho-Arteaga had entered the U.S. without authorization and was previously arrested and released by Customs and Border Protection in July 2021, and that agents found a kitchen knife in his vehicle during the stop. DHS said the child associated with him remains under the guardianship of her mother, and that Morocho-Arteaga remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Pittsburgh mother seeking asylum detained by ICE while traveling

Aug 26, 2026Pittsburgh, PACosta Rica

Katherine Sanchez-Bonilla, known to friends as "Kathi," was arrested by ICE agents while traveling to Rochester, New York, and has since been moved between several detention facilities before landing in El Paso, Texas. Her attorney says she has no criminal record and has a pending asylum application after leaving Costa Rica. Friends describe her as an ethical and conscientious person who held a Real ID, paid taxes, worked multiple jobs, and attended school while working with a lawyer for years to resolve her immigration status. Her 12-year-old son is currently staying with family in another city while she awaits a hearing before an immigration judge.

Witness to fatal Houston ICE shooting released after weeks in detention

Aug 26, 2026Houston, TXMexico

Daniel Tirado Pantoja, 43, a construction worker who had lived in the U.S. for roughly 30 years and was applying for a green card, was detained by ICE on July 7, 2026, after witnessing the fatal shooting of his employer, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, during a Houston traffic stop. Tirado Pantoja, who has a U.S. citizen son and stepdaughters and is in a common-law marriage with a legal permanent resident, disputed ICE's account of the shooting, saying agents were never in front of the van when they opened fire. Held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, he lost 20 to 30 pounds and suffered depression linked to the trauma of the shooting and detention conditions, according to advocates supporting his family. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett ruled his detention violated due process and ordered his release, and he was reunited with his wife outside the detention center on August 26, 2026.

Ecuadorian man remains in ICE custody after Danbury vehicle stop arrest

Aug 26, 2026Danbury, CTEcuador

Leonel Geovanny Morocho-Arteaga, a 28-year-old Ecuadoran national, was arrested by ICE during a targeted operation in Danbury, Connecticut. DHS said he had entered the United States without authorization and was previously arrested by Customs and Border Protection in July 2021 before being released. The agency said agents found a large kitchen knife in his vehicle during the stop and that his child is under the guardianship of her mother. Morocho-Arteaga remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Man detained by ICE faces deportation to Canada after father's death

Aug 26, 2026Federal Way, WACanada

Jordan Shafapay is being detained by ICE and facing possible deportation to Canada, according to a fundraiser set up by his loved ones. His situation grew more precarious after the unexpected death of his father, whose green card status Jordan had been under. Friends and family are raising money to hire an immigration attorney to fight his case.

Venezuelan father of four detained by ICE after work, family seeks funds

Aug 26, 2026Miami, FLVenezuela

Jorge Guzmán, a Venezuelan father of four who arrived in the United States five years ago seeking a better future for his family, was unexpectedly arrested by ICE while returning home from work in Miami. He was subsequently transferred to a detention center in another state, far from his children and family. His family is raising funds to hire an immigration lawyer to fight his deportation and secure his release.

Foreign national detained by ICE en route to work wins habeas release order

Aug 26, 2026Philadelphia, PA

A foreign national who entered the United States around 2008 was arrested and detained by ICE officers on August 26, 2026, without prior notice while he was on his way to work. He is currently held at the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center, with the government asserting he is subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). He filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention. The district court granted the petition, relying on recent Third Circuit precedent holding that noncitizens already present in the United States are not 'seeking admission' and therefore cannot be detained under § 1225(b), but only under § 1226. The court ordered the government to release him immediately, temporarily enjoined his re-detention for seven days, and required that any future detention be preceded by a bond hearing before a neutral immigration judge. The court also barred the government from removing or transferring him out of the district pending that bond hearing.

Legal observers pepper sprayed, one hospitalized during Danbury ICE encounter

Aug 26, 2026Danbury, CT

Two volunteers working as legal observers for Danbury Unites for Immigrants were pepper sprayed by ICE agents during an encounter on Wednesday, with one of them hospitalized afterward, according to co-founder Juan Fonseca Tapia. Tapia said an ICE vehicle struck him as agents were leaving the parking lot. The hospitalized legal observer was treated and has since returned to volunteer work, the group said.

Pregnant Mexican woman stopped by deputies, nephew handcuffed by ICE

Aug 26, 2026Lee County, FLMexico

A Mexican woman who was eight months pregnant was pulled over by Lee County deputies over her vehicle's dark window tint, and her nephew, a U.S. citizen, was called to the scene to translate. The nephew said ICE agents then grabbed him and placed him in handcuffs without cause, telling the story of protesting his detention by saying he would sue. The incident occurred amid a broader wave of ICE arrests across Lee County neighborhoods that week.

ICE raids detain dozens in Lee County, Florida neighborhood

Aug 26, 2026Fort Myers, FL

ICE agents carried out a raid early Wednesday morning at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Alderman Street off Palm Beach Boulevard in Lee County, Florida, detaining dozens of people using masked agents, armored vehicles and machine guns. Resident Ana Hernandez said neighbors live in fear of being stopped for being undocumented, while witness Hillary Hogue described the arrests as targeting hardworking people, not criminals. ICE released images of five men with prior arrests taken into custody but has not disclosed the total number detained, and immigration attorney Indera DeMine said courts in Miami are experiencing "mass chaos" from the surge in cases.

Masked ICE agents arrest riders on Houston Metro bus

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Aug 26, 2026Houston, TX

ICE agents wearing masks boarded a Houston METRO bus to carry out arrests, prompting outrage among local residents. The incident drew public reaction over safety concerns for people using public transit in the city.

Man with health condition held nearly 10 months in ICE detention

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Aug 26, 2026

Luis Miguel Vallecillo has been held in ICE custody for nearly 10 months. His family says he suffers from a health condition that may weaken his immune system, raising fears about his wellbeing in detention. They say six of his relatives have already been deported.

Cuban woman's husband detained by ICE during car trip, leaving her with baby

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Aug 26, 2026Cuba

Daraimi Bizo, a Cuban woman, said ICE officers detained her husband while the couple was traveling by car, leaving her alone with their baby. She shared her account publicly, describing the moment as distressing, and her testimony drew concern and solidarity on social media.

Colombian activist detained nearly two years, forced to choose surgery over asylum hearing

Aug 26, 2026Tacoma, WACanada

Julian David Palacios Obregon, a Colombian human rights activist and lawful permanent resident with ties to Canada, has spent nearly two years in ICE detention at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington. He filed a second habeas corpus petition challenging his prolonged detention, arguing that his removal was no longer imminent because it now depends on a multi-stage immigration process rather than direct deportation. Palacios Obregon has suffered from a severe gastrointestinal infection, and a colonoscopy scheduled for May 12, 2026 did not take place as planned. He now faces having to choose between receiving the medical procedure and attending his asylum hearing. A federal court previously found his removal to Canada reasonably foreseeable but ordered that he be given a chance to have his fear of removal reviewed by an immigration judge before any deportation. The court denied his request for expedited release or bond but ordered the government to explain the delay in his medical care and outline plans to reschedule it.

ICE agent shot Venezuelan man through door in Minneapolis; officers accused of lying under oath

Aug 26, 2026Minneapolis, MNVenezuela

Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a 24-year-old Venezuelan man, was shot in the leg by ICE agent Christian Castro during a January raid on his North Minneapolis home. His partner, Indriany Mendoza Camacho, said agents fired through the door as Sosa-Celis fled inside, and a photograph showed a bullet hole in the door; agents then threw tear gas into the home, which had children inside, before entering to detain him. Federal prosecutors initially charged Sosa-Celis and his cousin, Alfredo Alejandro Aljorna, with assaulting officers with a snow shovel and broom, but surveillance video contradicted the officers' sworn testimony. A federal judge dismissed the charges with prejudice after the U.S. Attorney cited newly discovered evidence, and ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons acknowledged two officers may have lied under oath; both were placed on administrative leave. Minnesota later charged Castro with assault, but Texas Governor Greg Abbott refused to extradite him, prompting a lawsuit from Minnesota's attorney general.

Father detained at ICE license checkpoint, family seeks funds for lawyer

Aug 25, 2026Winchester, VA

Emmanuel was detained by ICE at a license checkpoint and has since been arrested and held in detention. His wife, Jazmin, says he is the family's main provider and a hard worker who poses no threat to society. The couple has two children together, including a newborn only 20 days old, and Jazmin is still recovering from childbirth and on maternity leave from work. She is raising money to cover legal fees to help bring him home.

Detained immigrant ordered released after court finds ICE lacked authority to hold him

Aug 25, 2026Central Falls, RI

A man detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his arrest and continued detention. The government argued he was lawfully held under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(1), the expedited removal statute, but the court found that provision did not apply because he was not 'arriving in the United States.' The court instead determined his detention was governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), which applies to noncitizens present in the country without admission. He was being held at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility. The court granted his habeas petition, ordering his immediate release, and directed the government to provide him a bond hearing before an immigration judge within ten days. The court denied the government's request to impose monitoring equipment on him pending that hearing. The government was also ordered to file a status report on the outcome of the bond hearing.

Immigrant detained at South Texas ICE facility files habeas petition challenging detention

Aug 25, 2026Pearsall, TX

The petitioner is currently detained at the South Texas ICE Processing Center in Pearsall, Texas. He filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging his immigration detention. The court ordered federal respondents to file a response within 7 days addressing the date he entered the United States, whether he was previously apprehended and released by immigration authorities, and the current status of his immigration or removal proceedings. The petitioner was granted the opportunity to file a reply within 7 days after the response is filed. The document does not provide further details regarding his nationality, family circumstances, or the specifics of his apprehension.

Man threatened with pepper spray during arrest in front of Danbury preschool

Aug 25, 2026Danbury, CT

A video posted online showed five ICE agents in Danbury attempting to wrestle a man's arms behind his back while he lay on the street in front of a preschool center. A masked agent pointed a canister of what appeared to be pepper spray at the man's face, warning, "You're going to get sprayed," while another agent ordered him to put his arms out. The incident occurred during a week in which ICE agents made a sharp uptick in arrests across Danbury, with local advocacy group Danbury Unites for Immigrants confirming dozens of arrests in the city.

Father and 5-year-old son detained at traffic stop, deported together to Mexico

Aug 25, 2026Austin, TXMexico

Victor Martinez Nieto and his 5-year-old son, Liam Tadeo, were detained by ICE agents during a traffic stop in North Austin on August 16, 2026, while driving to a children's soccer game. Video showed Liam crying and clutching his handcuffed father's hands; a family spokesperson said Liam had been due to start kindergarten that week. The two were held together at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, where attorney Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch said officials denied requests to release Liam to his mother in Austin rather than risk him being placed alone in Office of Refugee Resettlement custody. DHS said Martinez Nieto had entered near Laredo in 2022, was arrested in November 2025, and had reentered after a prior deportation. Lawmakers Joaquin Castro, Greg Casar, and James Talarico called for the pair's release and for Dilley's closure, with Castro denied a facility visit. Martinez Nieto agreed to depart voluntarily with his son, and the two were deported to Mexico, reuniting with relatives with help from the Mexican Consulate, while Liam's mother sought ways to reunite with him.

American journalist detained for hours at airport by CBP, denied lawyer

Aug 25, 2026

Matthew Petti, a reporter for Reason, was pulled into secondary inspection at a U.S. airport while returning from abroad with his newlywed foreign wife. CBP agents held him for roughly four hours without explanation, refusing to let him use a landline to contact a lawyer. When Petti pointed out that an American citizen cannot be held indefinitely, the agent at the desk simply replied, "We'll let you know." He was eventually cleared to enter the country but was never told why he had been detained. Petti later filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking records on his detention, and a source told him it was possible he had been flagged by an automated watch-list or itinerary alert.

Woman pulled from car by ICE, Florida troopers while livestreaming

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Aug 25, 2026Fort Myers, FL

Marili Tomas was livestreaming on Facebook when ICE agents and Florida Highway Patrol officers smashed her car window and pulled her from the vehicle in Fort Myers, Florida. The live video cut off abruptly during the incident and remained her last Facebook post as of the following day. She was taken to Lee County Jail and charged with two counts of resisting an officer; she was not placed in ICE custody, and her bond was set at $3,000. ICE agents in Florida operate with local and state law enforcement under the 287(g) program, which has reportedly been used to target people documenting ICE activity.

Child pleads with ICE not to take his mother after agents visit home

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Aug 25, 2026Mexico

A Mexican mother experienced a tense week after ICE agents arrived at her home, an episode that culminated in an immigration court appearance. During the ordeal, her child wrote a handwritten letter pleading, "Please ICE, don't take my mom," after agents came to their house.

Haitian asylum seeker arrested by local police, turned over to ICE in Key West

Aug 25, 2026Key West, FLHaiti

A 36-year-old asylum seeker from Haiti who fled the country in 2017 after receiving death threats was arrested by local police in Key West and turned over to ICE. He worked as a cook and supervisor at the Half Shell Raw Bar and was described by his manager, Bobby Kuchinsky, as "an excellent worker" and "a family man" who was the main provider for his family. Kuchinsky declined to identify him publicly out of concern for his safety while in ICE custody.

Honduran mother reunited with infant son after judge orders release from ICE detention

Aug 25, 2026Austin, TXHonduras

Patricia, a 19-year-old Honduran woman living in Austin, was detained by ICE for nearly six weeks after being arrested by Austin police on a domestic violence-related assault charge that was later dismissed by prosecutors. She was separated from her breastfeeding 8-month-old son during her detention at a South Texas facility and said she was desperate for a breast pump and to reunite with him. After her attorneys at American Gateways sued for her release, U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ruled that the government had violated the Constitution by detaining her without a hearing and ordered ICE to release her within two days. She reunited with her son this week, though she still faces a deportation order that her lawyers are appealing.

Native American protester tased and tackled by police outside ICE office

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Aug 25, 2026Sacramento, CA

Sisi Rose, 33, a member of the Cheyenne River and Sisseton-Wahpeton tribes, was tased and tackled to the pavement by police while protesting outside the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations office in Sacramento, California. An officer allegedly shot pepper spray into her mouth and then arrested her for assault after she spit it out, while officers knelt on her neck with their body weight. Rose said she has been protesting for months against what she calls ICE's unlawful detentions of Native Americans and U.S. citizens, saying, "My kids could be snatched up off the streets, and we're from here, and that scares me."

Deployed Navy sailor's father detained by Border Patrol in Florida, then released

Aug 25, 2026Key West, FLNicaragua

Luis Manuel Aviles, 48, a Nicaraguan handyman who has lived in Key West, Florida for about 19 years, was detained by Border Patrol agents during a traffic stop while driving to drop his car off at a mechanic near a Publix supermarket. Family members said he holds a work permit, Social Security card, and driver's license, has a pending asylum application, and has no criminal record. His son, Navy sailor Joshua Aviles, was more than nine months into a deployment aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East and called his father a 'hardworking, humble man,' describing the arrest as heartbreaking. His wife, Argelia Aviles, said, 'He dedicates himself only to work so he can put food on the table at home. He is a good father,' while his stepdaughter said her half-brother struggled to sleep and eat afterward. DHS said having a family member in the military does not confer legal status or immunity from enforcement. An immigration judge dismissed the case against Aviles days later, and he was released from custody, with his family thanking supporters and asking for privacy. His case is among dozens identified nationally involving parents and spouses of active-duty troops.

Ecuadorian mother, epileptic daughter handcuffed at hospital, later self-deport

Aug 25, 2026Orlando, FLEcuador

Grace Stephanie Calero Cabanilla, 39, and her 19-year-old daughter Giulianna Mía Carriel Calero, Ecuadorian nationals who fled Ecuador three years earlier due to death threats, were taken into ICE custody at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital near Kissimmee after a highway rollover crash. Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies, acting under a 287(g) agreement with ICE, questioned the women in the emergency room; Grace, still sedated and in a cervical collar, was handcuffed at her bedside, while Giulianna, who has epilepsy, suffered a seizure and was handcuffed in her hospital gown and led out in front of other patients and staff. Family members, including Grace's sister Gia Calero, said agents did not identify themselves or produce a warrant. The family's attorney said both women had pending asylum claims, with Grace holding a valid work permit and Florida driver's license and Giulianna holding a visa valid until 2030, though the Polk County Sheriff's Office disputed this and said both had overstayed expired visas. Video of the arrest circulated widely, prompting a press conference from local immigrant advocates demanding accountability. Fearing for her daughter's health in detention, Grace signed voluntary departure paperwork and the pair returned to Ecuador, where Grace said she remains afraid to leave her home due to earlier threats while continuing treatment for crash-related injuries.

Navy veteran with three Iraq tours detained by ICE leaving reentry program

Aug 25, 2026San Diego, CAMexico

Benito Miranda Hernandez, brought to the U.S. from Mexico as a baby, joined the Navy after 9/11 and served three tours during the Iraq War. His mother, Maria Miranda, said he returned traumatized and unrecognizable, later serving years in prison on felony drug and weapons convictions and probation violations. After his green card was reinstated in November 2025, federal immigration agents detained him in June as he left a reentry halfway house in Barrio Logan, San Diego, where he had completed a sentence and was trying to turn his life around. He is now held at Otay Mesa Detention Center facing possible deportation. Advocates including deported Army veteran Hector Barajas and James L. Smith II say he struggles with PTSD from his deployments, and his case is part of a broader trend of immigrant veterans facing deportation despite military service.

Guard arrested for stealing $5,000 from detainee at Krome facility

Aug 24, 2026Miami, FL

Matthew Christian Torres, a 31-year-old security guard employed by Akima Protective Services at Krome Detention Center, was arrested on felony grand theft charges after police say he stole $5,382 from a detainee who was in the process of being deported. Surveillance footage reportedly showed Torres concealing the cash in his jacket, hiding in an employee bathroom, and later putting the money in his pocket without reporting it to a supervisor or logging it in the property book. Torres was booked into Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center with bond set at $2,500, and ICE said it takes allegations of misconduct seriously and would investigate.

ICE arrests one person in Bridgeport amid statewide enforcement surge

Aug 24, 2026Bridgeport, CT

ICE agents arrested one person in Bridgeport on Monday as part of a broader wave of enforcement activity across Connecticut that also included arrests in Danbury and Stamford. Advocates said little is known about the circumstances of the Bridgeport arrest. Community groups activated an emergency protocol to verify reports and connect affected families with legal support.

Four tree removal workers detained by ICE in Stamford sweep

Aug 24, 2026Stamford, CT

ICE agents detained four people in Stamford on Monday who worked for different tree removal companies, according to a report from the group CT Students for a Dream. Agents reportedly entered neighborhoods with large immigrant populations and detained people at random, though several individuals were later released after showing documentation. Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons said she was 'horrified by the cruelty of these actions' and that the city's streets should not see people 'randomly removed' with their rights violated.

At least 16 arrested in Danbury ICE sweep, including father and dialysis patient

Aug 24, 2026Danbury, CT

At least 16 people were arrested by ICE agents in Danbury on Monday, according to community advocates, with about half detained at a day laborer site and others stopped outside residences or businesses. One detained man requires dialysis treatment, and another is the father of a high school student. Advocates said many of those detained have no criminal or immigration history. Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves said agents appeared to be 'pulling random people' who looked Latino, calling the operation 'fear-driven' and intended to divide the community.

Security guard accused of stealing $5,382 from detainee at Krome ICE facility

Aug 24, 2026Miami, FL

A detainee at the Krome Service Processing Center in Miami-Dade County reported that $5,382 belonging to him went missing while staff were preparing his deportation documents. Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputies say surveillance footage showed 31-year-old Matthew Christian Torres, a security guard employed by contractor Akima Protective Services, placing the cash in a log book without recording it, then concealing it in his jacket and later his cargo pants without ever reporting it to a supervisor. Torres was arrested on a charge of third-degree grand theft and held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $2,500 bond. ICE said it takes allegations of staff misconduct seriously and investigates such complaints.

Soldier's wife deported to Honduras despite pending military parole case

Aug 24, 2026El Paso, TXHonduras

Cristy Maryori Villafranca Trejo, 29, wife of active-duty Army Sgt. Hedár Leonel Turcios Juárez at Fort Bliss, was detained by ICE agents on July 11 outside a Walmart near El Paso as their 6-year-old U.S. citizen daughter watched masked agents handcuff her. She fled Honduras in 2016 and received a 2017 removal order after missing a court hearing she says she was never notified of; she had no criminal record and served as the family's primary caregiver, including during her husband's nine-month deployment. She was held at Camp East Montana on Fort Bliss, where she and her husband reported an infection, unsanitary conditions and dirty clothing, consistent with a Human Rights Watch report citing excessive force and medical neglect at the facility. On August 17 she was pulled off a deportation flight due to a legal issue, later returned to the airport, had a panic attack, and was ultimately deported despite a pending Board of Immigration Appeals case and military parole-in-place application. Turcios, a naturalized U.S. citizen since 2024, said, "She has been my everything... I'm just asking for my family to be together so I can continue with my military career," and has continued his duties while arranging child care alone and paying for private legal representation. Rep. Veronica Escobar opened a congressional inquiry and visited her in detention, saying her heart "breaks for her, her children and the soldier who must feel so betrayed by the country he is sacrificing for." She is at least the seventh spouse or parent of an active-duty service member deported under the administration's immigration crackdown, according to an Associated Press tally.

Man detained by ICE after highway crash, chase in Chicago's McKinley Park

Aug 24, 2026Chicago, IL

Federal immigration officers pinned a pickup truck on Interstate 55 before chasing and detaining a man, who was then taken into custody in the McKinley Park neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side, according to Ald. Julia Ramirez. Illinois State Police confirmed a two-vehicle crash involving ICE agents near the I-55 northbound ramp to Damen Avenue, with no injuries reported. A reporter heard an ICE officer tell protesters the man had a prior DUI. About a dozen federal vehicles arrived on South Wolcott Avenue, drawing a crowd of residents who shouted for agents to leave and remained at the scene for hours.

Detained woman describes medical neglect, freezing punishment room in ICE custody

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Aug 24, 2026

Marianita, a woman held in ICE detention, said sickness spread among detainees while her requests for medical care were ignored. She described being soaked with cold water, forced to dry off in front of an air conditioner, and later confined in a freezing punishment room as her pneumonia worsened. She was transferred through ICE facilities in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas during her detention.

Padres coach detained by ICE at airport, later released on bond

Aug 24, 2026El Paso, TXVenezuela

Oswaldo José Pirela, a 34-year-old Venezuelan-born catching coordinator for the San Diego Padres' minor-league system, was detained by immigration authorities at El Paso International Airport while traveling for work. Pirela lives near Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife and two U.S.-born daughters, previously played in the Texas Rangers' minor-league system after signing in 2009, and has coached for the Padres since 2024. He entered the U.S. in 2014, applied for asylum in 2015 citing fears of persecution over criticism of the Venezuelan government, and has a pending green card application along with a work permit his family says remains valid. DHS said his authorized stay expired in February 2018 and that pending applications or work permits do not confer legal status. Relatives describe him as a devoted father, dedicated coach, and man of faith respected by coworkers and players, and sought help from Rep. Abraham Hamadeh. His detention followed a broader ICE practice, begun in July, of using TSA flight lists to identify and detain travelers at airports. Pirela was released from ICE custody on bond on August 24 and reunited with his family, pending removal proceedings.

Cumberland County corrections officer from Angola detained by ICE, sheriff calls him 'very good employee'

Aug 23, 2026Portland, MEAngola

Nilton Ribeiro, a corrections officer at the Cumberland County Jail in Maine since 2023, was arrested by ICE agents during a targeted enforcement operation. DHS officials said Ribeiro, originally from Angola, entered the U.S. in September 2022 with permission to stay until March 2023 but remained after that date expired. Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce called him 'a very good employee' who passed a rigorous hiring process, including a background check and polygraph test. Jail administrator Timothy Kortes described him as a satisfactory employee who met job expectations and had notified the jail of an immigration issue before missing work. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings and is at least the fourth Cumberland County Jail corrections officer detained by ICE in the past 16 months.

Man deported after 30 years in U.S., leaves wife and sons behind

Aug 23, 2026TXMexico

Ulises, originally from Veracruz, Mexico, was deported after living in the United States for 30 years, leaving behind his wife and two sons who remain there. He was held at an ICE detention center in Texas before being flown to Tulum with no money, and said he plans to apply for a passport and visa so he can reunite with his family through legal channels.

Oaxacan father deported after years of remittances funded children's schooling

Aug 23, 2026TXMexico

Santiago, a father from Oaxaca, Mexico, was deported after years of working in the United States and sending remittances that funded his children's education, including one child who recently graduated with a specialty in gastronomy. He was held at an ICE detention center in Texas before being flown to Tulum without money or belongings, and relied on relatives to pay for a flight home.

Mexican man deported after years working to repay $16,000 debt

Aug 23, 2026TXMexico

David, from Querétaro, Mexico, was deported after working in the United States for more than two years to repay a $16,000 debt he borrowed to make the trip north. He was held at an ICE detention center in Texas before being flown to Tulum, arriving with no money or belongings and relying on family and friends to pay for a domestic flight home. He returned to Mexico with no savings and no job.

Venezuelan singer John Theis detained by ICE agents

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Aug 23, 2026Venezuela

John Theis, a Venezuelan singer and rapper, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. News of his arrest was confirmed and shared on social media by music industry colleagues, including producer and artist Junior Caldera and singer ADSO. Colleagues launched a campaign using the hashtag #FreeJohnTheis calling for his release.

Rideshare driver detained at Camp Pendleton gate despite valid work permit

Aug 23, 2026Oceanside, CA

Assim Alkhawaja, a 53-year-old Middle Eastern immigrant who moved to Oceanside about two years ago to pursue graduate studies in human rights, was detained by ICE while dropping off passengers at a Camp Pendleton gate. He holds work authorization valid until 2030 amid a pending asylum case and has no criminal history. His sister Arwa, a U.S. citizen, said he provided his driver's license and work permit at the gate before being told to pull over and detained, then transported to Otay Mesa Detention Center, where he spent about eight days. An immigration judge found he posed no danger to the community and was not a flight risk, ordering his release on $10,000 bond; he now wears a GPS monitor while his case continues. Before his detention, Alkhawaja had sold his businesses in the Middle East to open Sands Coffee Roasters, a coffee shop nearly ready to open. Attorneys say he is among dozens of rideshare and delivery drivers for companies including Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, GrubHub and Roadie detained at the base's gates under a pilot program launched in 2025 in which military police call ICE on non-citizen drivers.

Gainesville teen athlete and family detained by ICE, mother and son released on bond

Aug 22, 2026Gainesville, FLVenezuela

Sebastian Jimenez Peroza, a 17-year-old Venezuelan senior at Gainesville High School who plays football, soccer and baseball, was detained by ICE agents on Aug. 22 along with his mother, stepfather and sister at their Gainesville apartment complex, days before the school year began. The family had fled Venezuela after his mother and sister were kidnapped, entering the U.S. legally before seeking asylum once their visa expired. They were separated across facilities, with Jimenez and his mother sent to a Texas detention center and his stepfather and sister held in Florida. Football coach Ashour Peera rallied community support, staying in contact with Jimenez by phone, putting him on speaker before a rivalry game, and later testifying as a character witness at his bond hearing; he described Jimenez as 'a remarkable young man' who 'lights up a room' and called the family 'law-abiding citizens in the community.' Students displayed a Venezuelan flag bearing Jimenez's jersey number in support, and a GoFundMe raised more than $13,000. Following an expedited bond hearing, Jimenez, his mother and stepfather were released on bond and plan to return home so he can resume school, while his sister's bond hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9 and she remained detained.

Father detained by ICE outside his home in Tennessee

Aug 22, 2026Greeneville, TN

Joselyn Rodriguez's father was arrested by ICE in front of his home after returning from grocery shopping, having just dropped his children off at school. No reason was given for his detention, leaving the family shocked and struggling to understand what happened. His daughter is raising funds to help pay for legal fees and consultations as the family seeks to bring him home.

Guatemalan man restrained by ICE agents inside New York laundromat

Aug 22, 2026NYGuatemala

Silvano (also reported as Silvino) López Domingo, a Guatemalan man, was detained and physically restrained by ICE agents while waiting to pick up his laundry at a laundromat in New York state. Neighbors who filmed the arrest said four agents forcibly took him away and threatened him with an electric shock. His wife, Milvia Chávez, currently in Guatemala with their 5-month-old daughter, said he has no criminal record and is asking for help to secure his release. Witnesses who saw the arrest expressed concern about the increase in immigration enforcement operations in the state.

Man detained by ICE agents outside Yakima grocery store

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Aug 22, 2026Yakima, WA

Federal immigration agents were seen detaining a man in the parking lot of a Grocery Outlet on South First Street in Yakima, Washington. Witnesses recorded video of the encounter as it unfolded in broad daylight. The man's identity and immigration status have not been confirmed.

Mexican father arrested by ICE during morning walk in Redondo Beach

Aug 22, 2026Redondo Beach, CAMexico

Ernesto Alejandro Perez-Garcia, a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE agents while on his morning walk along the Redondo Beach esplanade. He initially denied his identity but admitted the truth after agents showed him a previous mugshot. Perez-Garcia has a lengthy arrest history dating to 2003 and had previously been deported, later re-entering the U.S. multiple times; he said his children live in the United States and he does not know what will happen next. Redondo Beach police had twice declined to honor ICE detainer requests for him, in 2020 and 2026.

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