Human Impact Project

The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals is considering a potential ban on ICE arrests conducted during green card interviews. This case addresses whether immigration enforcement should be permitted at official immigration benefit interviews.

ICE conducted "Operation Guardian Sweep" enforcement actions on Oklahoma tribal lands without warning tribal leaders, who learned about the operations through social media instead of federal officials. Tribal leaders accused federal agents of racial profiling and stopping people without reasonable suspicion, arguing the actions violate tribal sovereignty and that tribal citizens are categorically outside immigration jurisdiction.

American volunteers in Springfield, Ohio converted spare bedrooms and basements into safe houses to shelter Haitian families after the Trump administration moved to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) effective February 3, 2026. A federal judge blocked the termination on February 2, keeping TPS in place while litigation proceeds. Approximately two dozen immigrant families were sheltered through the network.

The Trump administration released hundreds of detainees from the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, placing them under government supervision with ankle monitors as an alternative to detention. A Venezuelan mother and her son, who were detained for two months after an ICE check-in appointment, were released to Laredo after refusing a $5,000 offer to leave the country. Released detainees must continue periodic ICE check-ins. The detainees reported detention conditions including worms in food and denial of medical care.

A federal appeals court is reviewing whether ICE can resume detaining undocumented spouses at USCIS green card interviews, following a 2024 injunction that barred such arrests in the Fourth Circuit. The case centers on whether ICE's practice of arresting immigrants immediately after approved marriage-based green card interviews violates due process and the provisional unlawful presence waiver program designed to help undocumented spouses obtain legal status.

Human Rights First's ICE Flight Monitor report documents ICE Air Operations' expansion in February 2026, with 183 removal flights to 31 countries and new charter carriers. The report documents expanded domestic transfer flights and removal operations.

ICE apprehensions in the Pacific Northwest increased in late 2025 under an operation internally called 'Operation Black Rose.' Multnomah County experienced a 600% increase in apprehensions, while Washington County saw a 2,100% increase. Paulino Martin San Pedro was arrested in Washington County and subsequently deported to Mexico, where he died in February 2026 from pneumonia complications.

The Department of Homeland Security issued a February 2026 policy memo reinterpreting Section 209 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, stating that refugees who have lived in the U.S. for at least one year but have not yet acquired lawful permanent resident status may be arrested and detained. The new policy rescinds a 2010 DHS policy that limited such arrests and could affect approximately 100,000 refugees currently in the country with lawful immigration status. Immigration attorneys are advising refugee clients to file for permanent status immediately, though approval delays and country-specific holds mean some could face detention despite following proper procedures.

As of mid-January 2026, 7,252 people had been detained in ICE custody for at least six months — including 79 held for more than two years — compared to 2,849 long-term detainees recorded in December 2024 under the Biden administration, according to ICE data reported by the Associated Press. The increase is partly driven by a Trump administration policy generally prohibiting immigration judges from releasing detainees on bond. Among those detained are people who have won protection under the UN Convention Against Torture but cannot be sent to their home countries.

Police chiefs in Minnesota have made public statements criticizing federal immigration enforcement agents regarding incidents involving an innocent man left in the snow, a 5-year-old's arrest, and deaths of U.S. citizens. Local police officials stated that federal agents' conduct affects the trust they have worked to build with their communities following years of criticism over their own use of force.

ICE issued an internal memo on January 29, 2026, expanding the agency's authority for warrantless arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants. The memo changed the standard from whether individuals are unlikely to appear for immigration hearings to whether they are unlikely to remain at the scene of an encounter. This policy shift allows lower-level ICE agents greater discretion to conduct broad sweeps without supervisor approval.

Immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota have affected vulnerable populations. ICE agents arrested a 58-year-old McDonald's worker; according to reports, agents mocked his son's attempt to deliver heart medication to the detained father. Pregnant immigrants have avoided prenatal care, and healthcare providers report cases of preterm premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia going undetected. Healthcare providers report increased no-show rates and some patients resorting to home births instead of hospital care.

On January 30, Eugene Police declared a riot outside the downtown federal building during an anti-ICE protest that was part of a nationwide "National Shutdown" demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Several hundred demonstrators assembled in the plaza and courtyard areas before the situation escalated, with law enforcement ordering dispersal and staging to clear the area. The FBI subsequently listed three protesters on its most wanted list for alleged involvement in property damage, including breaking windows, spray-painting, and throwing rocks at law enforcement. The Bureau is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction. This incident followed a similar anti-ICE protest at the same location on January 27 that also resulted in arrests and deployment of crowd-control measures.

Armenian Interior Ministry spokesperson Narek Sargsyan confirmed that some Armenians who were deported from the United States were transported back to Armenia. According to Armenian journalist David Galstyan, the deportees were flown via charter jet from Texas to the east coast, then to Bucharest, and finally to Yerevan. The exact number of deportees was not specified.

U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff's investigation has uncovered over 1,000 credible reports of human rights abuses in immigration detention facilities. The investigation revealed abuse of pregnant women and children, medical neglect, and denial of adequate food or water for ICE detainees. Sen. Ossoff released a new report documenting patterns of these abuses as part of an ongoing probe into conditions in U.S. immigration detention.

ICE conducted multiple enforcement operations in Tucson on Friday, January 23, 2026, arresting three Venezuelan asylum seekers in front of an elementary school and detaining employees at a restaurant. The operations also included briefly questioning a city worker. Officials expressed concern about the escalation.

Hassan Hamka, a lawful permanent resident, has been held in ICE detention for over six months while his legal case proceeds. His daughter created a petition seeking community support and character testimonials to present to the judge at his trial.

Federal immigration agents shot at people in their vehicles at least 15 times since July 2025 during Trump administration enforcement operations. In one case, Francisco Longoria's truck was shot at by agents in San Bernardino. Video evidence contradicted the government's claims of self-defense. Charges against Longoria were dropped after prosecutors stated no lawful basis for the stop existed and no evidence of injured officers was found. The shootings occurred in various jurisdictions, including Democratic-led sanctuary jurisdictions.

Sean Sherman, owner of the restaurant Owamni, discusses ongoing ICE enforcement activities in Minnesota. Sherman describes community organizing activities, including a planned "ICE Out of MN Day" on January 23 where businesses are participating in planned activities related to immigration enforcement operations in the state.

High school students in San Antonio organized walk-out protests on January 23, 2026, at Holmes High School, Marshall High School, and Brennan High School to oppose increased immigration enforcement operations. The student-led demonstrations were not school-sanctioned. The protests occurred during a period when ICE activity in the region was occurring and the San Antonio Police Department had proposed cooperation with ICE.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated she would welcome U.S. deportees. Immigration lawyers and watchdogs conducted investigations into conditions for deportees in Mexico. Deportees reported dangers in Mexico including targeting by cartels.

A confidential memorandum obtained by the Associated Press reveals that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents claim authority to forcibly enter residences using only administrative orders, rather than judicial warrants required by the Fourth Amendment. The policy change, signed by interim ICE director Todd Lyons in May 2025, differs from longstanding legal guidance and Supreme Court rulings, and has been used to train new ICE agents deployed in the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.

ICE deputy assistant director Patricia Hyde confirmed that the agency has arrested nearly 50 people in Maine as part of an intensified immigration enforcement operation called "Operation Catch of the Day." Hyde stated ICE has a target list of 1,400 people in Maine. Local officials in Portland and Lewiston expressed concern about ICE's tactics and lack of communication with city authorities, while noting increased fear in immigrant communities.

A leaked ICE memorandum reveals that federal immigration agents are authorized to use force to enter residences based solely on administrative orders, without judicial warrants. The policy applies to individuals with final deportation orders. A U.S. citizen in Minnesota was forcibly removed from his home by ICE agents without a warrant, detained briefly, and then returned after agents discovered his citizenship status.

ICE listed Caney Valley Public Schools Police Department as having a 287(g) agreement that would authorize school officers to make immigration arrests, but the agreement was removed from ICE's website days later. School officials say the police chief was misled during a training event and never signed anything, and the superintendent stated the school will not enter into any agreement with ICE.

Nine deaths have occurred in immigration detention in the first nine weeks of the year, with over 30 deaths recorded in the previous year. ICE has been the subject of criticism regarding medical care provided to detainees. The agency has stated that detainees receive healthcare comparable to or better than what they would receive in their home countries.

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez introduced the Melt ICE Act to end DHS funding for immigrant detention and monitoring. The legislation aims to redirect ICE funding toward housing, healthcare, and other wrap-around services for communities affected by immigration enforcement.

According to a report by the Deportation Data Project, the vast majority of people arrested by ICE during "Operation Catch of the Day" in Maine in January 2026 had not been previously convicted of crimes. Of 206 people arrested, only 14 had criminal convictions. More than half were marked as "collateral" arrests—unintended targets arrested because they were present and suspected of being undocumented.

Hundreds of Venezuelan migrants were deported by the U.S. to El Salvador's CECOT prison under a deal brokered by the Trump administration. Detainees reported being beaten, tortured, and held in conditions with inadequate food, water, and sanitation. Human Rights Watch research found nearly half had no criminal history.

Deportees returning to Mexico after decades in the United States find their hometowns changed. Returning migrants report experiencing kidnapping, extortion, and violence. Some migrants report being forced to flee their hometowns again due to cartel-dominated conditions. According to some experts, individuals experience what is termed "double displacement."

ICE stopped and arrested 3 individuals on Robinson Ave in Springdale on their way to work at a Family Dollar. ICE broke car windows during the stop. ICE was spotted in other areas the same morning. Their families were contacted for support.

ICE's detainee population has reached a record high of approximately 73,000 individuals, surpassing 70,000 for the first time in the agency's 23-year history. This represents an 84% increase from the same time in 2025 when the detention population was below 40,000. The Trump administration has stated its goal of detaining upwards of 100,000 immigration detainees at any given time as part of a broad deportation crackdown.

ICE reported a record-breaking detainee population of approximately 73,000 individuals as of January 16, 2026, representing an 84% increase from the previous year. The Trump administration has set a goal of detaining upwards of 100,000 immigrants at any given time. The majority of detainees (roughly 47%) are classified as immigration violators with no criminal record, though the administration claims 70% have criminal charges or convictions.

Four migrants died in ICE custody between January 3-9, 2026: Geraldo Lunas Campos (Cuban, age 55) at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas; Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres (Honduran, age 42) in Houston; Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz (Honduran, age 68) in Indio, California; and Parady La (Cambodian, age 46) at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. At least 30 people died in ICE custody in 2025.

Federal immigration agents conducted enforcement arrests in Minneapolis on Sunday, pepper-spraying protesters and ramming into a residential home to arrest a man. The operation occurred in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of woman Renee Good by an ICE officer on January 7. More than 2,000 immigration arrests have been made in Minnesota since the enforcement operation began in early December.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Operation PARRIS on January 9, 2026, targeting up to 5,600 lawfully admitted refugees in Minnesota for investigation. Following this announcement, lawfully present refugees including families and children were subjected to warrantless arrests, unauthorized detention, and coercive interrogation. IRAP filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of refugees seeking to end DHS's illegal policy of arresting and detaining lawfully present refugees who have not yet obtained LPR status.

This is a legal filing in U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon in which plaintiffs M-J-M-A- and Victor Cruz Gamez seek a preliminary injunction against DHS and ICE officials. The case challenges what plaintiffs characterize as an 'Arrest First, Justify Later' policy regarding immigration enforcement operations. The filing argues this policy has caused extensive harm and requests expedited hearing and oral argument.

USCIS and DHS announced Operation PARRIS, a sweeping initiative to re-vet thousands of refugees through new background checks, reinterviews, and merit reviews of refugee claims. The operation was piloted in Minnesota, where more than 100 refugees were arrested in January and transferred to detention centers in Texas for interviews. Refugees targeted had already passed security screenings before admission and were required to obtain green cards within one year of arrival.

A federal operation called "Operation PARRIS" beginning January 9, 2026, arrested approximately 150 Minnesota refugees with legal admission status and transferred many to detention facilities in Texas before families could secure legal representation. The operation targets 5,600 Minnesota refugees without green cards for background checks and merit reviews, though immigration attorneys note little historical evidence of fraud in the refugee resettlement program and that rapid transfers to Texas complicate legal proceedings.

Under President Trump's administration, the Trump administration has detained and transferred asylum-seekers to out-of-state detention centers before they receive final removal orders. This represents a change from previous administrations' practice of allowing asylum-seekers to remain in the U.S. during court proceedings.

Pablo Nieves, a Venezuelan asylum seeker who legally entered the U.S. in 2018 with a work permit, was detained by ICE agents in a Home Depot parking lot in Plymouth, Minnesota on January 8, 2026. He was transferred to a detention center in El Paso, Texas, where he was held for two weeks before being released on bond after a court hearing. The detention occurred during Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement initiative targeting asylum seekers with pending applications.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced plans to deploy floating buoys along more than 500 miles of the Rio Grande River as part of expanded border security efforts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that 130 miles of buoys were already under contract and installation began on the day of the announcement. The floating barriers are part of a broader Trump administration initiative to build a "Smart Wall" combining steel barriers, waterborne barriers, patrol roads, lights, cameras, and detection technology.

The Trump administration's Operation Midway Blitz, which began in early September 2025, conducted mass immigration enforcement raids across the Chicago region, detaining over 4,300 people according to the Department of Homeland Security. Data shows that most detainees do not have significant criminal records. Hundreds of immigrants, protesters and bystanders were detained or arrested, and thousands protested across Chicago and suburbs.

ICE deported a man who was apprehended in Utah. A judge has since ruled that the Trump administration must bring him back, indicating potential legal issues with the deportation proceedings.

The Trump administration has virtually stopped releasing undocumented children in federal custody to their parents and relatives, according to government sources and immigration attorneys. Starting in early November, the Office of Refugee Resettlement began issuing verbal orders to staff to halt child releases to sponsors, even those who had passed vetting requirements. The government released approximately four children per day in October but only four total children over the following six weeks.

The US Trump administration deported 17 non-Cameroonian nationals from 9 African countries to Cameroon in January and February 2026 under an agreement. Cameroonian authorities detained the deportees, with 15 remaining in detention in Yaoundé. Several deportees had court-ordered protections against deportation to their countries of origin due to persecution or torture fears.

A University of Washington Center for Human Rights report documents immigration enforcement across the Pacific Northwest during late 2025, with arrests increasing from 250 in late 2024 to 2,250 in the final three months of 2025. Yakima County had 180 arrests per 100,000 residents, the highest rate per capita in the state. The report documents that federal immigration agencies use systems like NLETS to access driver information through state departments of licensing to identify and arrest suspected undocumented immigrants.

An internal memo obtained by The Associated Press authorized ICE agents to use force to enter residences based on an administrative arrest order for someone with a final deportation order, according to the document. This policy change occurred as the Trump administration expanded immigration arrests nationwide and deployed thousands of agents in a mass deportation campaign. Activists and civil liberties organizations stated the policy conflicted with Fourth Amendment constitutional protections.

ICE officers entered Hennepin County Medical Center without a warrant on December 31, 2025, and guarded a patient seeking medical care for approximately 28 hours. The patient was reportedly shackled to their hospital bed at times and denied family visits while officers maintained watch. Immigration advocates and healthcare workers held a press conference demanding policy changes to protect patients from immigration enforcement in hospitals.

Orange County experienced significant federal deportation enforcement operations beginning in June 2025, with ICE agents targeting day laborers, car wash workers, and people at immigration court proceedings. The sweeps sparked widespread protests, prompts from local governments to create immigrant aid funds, and complaints from officials and advocates that agents were targeting vulnerable immigrants rather than serious criminals. A notable case involved Narciso Barranco, a Tustin landscaper and father of three U.S. Marines, who was violently arrested in June and later released; his case drew national attention and congressional testimony.