Human Impact Project

On March 30, over 10 ICE agents surrounded and detained Salah Sarsour, a lawful permanent resident who has lived in the United States for over 30 years. Within 24 hours, the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed in federal court seeking immediate relief before ICE filed charges. The organization states the charges are an attempt to suppress voices supporting Palestine.

ICE transferred 20-year-old Cristofer Ortega from New Jersey to a detention center in Louisiana despite having an approved legal pathway to citizenship through Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Ortega, who arrived in the U.S. at age 9 and has no criminal record, was detained after an encounter while completing his HVAC certification. ICE is planning to deport him to Honduras before he can apply for his green card.

Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court challenging her detention at the Aurora ICE Processing Center. On March 21, 2025, Judge Nina Y. Wang issued an order prohibiting her removal from Colorado or the United States pending resolution of the case. The plaintiff subsequently filed an amended petition on April 8, 2025.

Neiyerver Adrian Leon Rengel, a 27-year-old Venezuelan national, was detained by ICE on March 13, 2025, in Irving, Texas, based on suspected gang affiliation determined by his tattoos. His case record disappeared from ICE's online tracking system two days later. Authorities told his girlfriend he was deported, but he has not been located in Venezuela or on any public list of deportees sent to El Salvador.

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.