Human Impact Project

An Oak Park civil litigation attorney was arrested by ICE agents outside his child's elementary school on Monday morning. The attorney was detained after following an ICE van and honking his horn and blowing a whistle, which he said was to identify the unmarked vehicle. He was charged with impeding federal agents and held for approximately one hour before being released near the school.

Nayra Guzmán, a 22-year-old Mexican immigrant, was arrested by ICE agents 15 days after giving birth via emergency C-section while her daughter remained hospitalized in the NICU. She was detained for approximately 34 hours at the Broadview Processing Center without adequate medical care, food, water, or breast pump access. The Trump administration changed DHS policies that had previously protected recently postpartum immigrants from detention. Guzmán's case is among dozens of documented cases of pregnant and postpartum immigrants detained since January 2025.

Nayra Guzmán, a 22-year-old Mexican immigrant, was detained by ICE 15 days after giving birth via C-section while her newborn daughter remained in the NICU. She was held at the Broadview Processing Center for approximately 34 hours without adequate medical care, food, water, or a breast pump, despite her postpartum recovery needs and Type 1 diabetes. The Trump administration reversed previous DHS policies that restricted detention of recently postpartum immigrants.

A Washington Post analysis found that ICE detention centers experience an average of 29 days of dangerous heat per year, compared to 18 days in federal, state, and county prisons. The analysis, based on internal ICE planning documents, shows that planned expansions of detention capacity will increase this figure to 35 dangerous heat days annually. Many detainees report malfunctioning air conditioning and inadequate cooling systems.

Multiple pregnant women have been detained by ICE and face deportation. Leonela Liliana Gomez Hernandez, a 27-year-old in her eighth month of pregnancy, was detained while traveling to a prenatal appointment in Los Angeles and deported to Nicaragua within days. Cecil Elvir-Quinonez, a 25-year-old Honduran mother of two American-born children, was detained on January 1, 2026, and transferred to a Louisiana facility where she experienced heavy bleeding and cramps and received one emergency room visit for medical attention.

Immigrant detainees at ICE detention facilities in Louisiana report going hungry and being served poor quality, processed foods that are often expired or undercooked. The Richwood facility, which holds nearly 750 women, has seen changes in food quality as detainee populations increase and the facility switched to a lower-cost food distributor. ICE officials claim detainees receive proper meals meeting nutritional standards. Advocates say the conditions involve underfeeding.

Ruperto Vicens Marquez, head chef at Emilio's Kitchen in Atlantic Highlands, was detained by ICE on October 19, 2025. According to ICE, Marquez is from Mexico and has a final removal order, though his lawyer disputes this claim and states he has a pending merits hearing scheduled for 2028. Marquez has valid work authorization through 2029 according to Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner, and his wife and three children remain in the U.S. A protest was held in support of Marquez, and a GoFundMe campaign has raised $85,000 to cover legal fees.

A Mexican immigrant and widowed father of four was detained at Broadview Processing Center for four days in poor conditions and reportedly coerced into signing a voluntary departure form while unaware he had an emergency hearing scheduled. Voluntary departures have increased 21-fold during the first nine months of 2025.

A 42-year-old San Francisco tenant from Russia who fled political persecution is in federal immigration custody and faces eviction by his landlord due to his inability to appear in court. He is scheduled to lose his housing on Monday at a McCallister Street eviction hearing. ICE has not responded to requests about whether they would allow the man to appear virtually.

David Huerta, a Southern California labor union leader, had his felony obstruction charge reduced to a misdemeanor following his arrest while protesting an immigration raid. Court records show the charge reduction was approved.

Portland Police Commander Franz Schoening testified in federal court that on October 18, federal officers accidentally escalated a No Kings protest at an ICE facility when one officer misfired a tear gas launcher, sending a canister onto the roof where other federal officers were stationed. The officers on the roof mistook the friendly fire for an attack by protesters and retaliated by firing tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd, injuring local law enforcement in the process.

A Pennsylvania man exonerated after spending over 40 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit was immediately taken into ICE custody upon his release, with authorities seeking to deport him to India based on a 1988 deportation order. Subu Vedam, who moved to the US at nine months old, was cleared of the 1980 murder charge earlier this month, but ICE cited his old drug conviction and deportation order as grounds for detention. His family and lawyers are fighting the deportation, arguing that Vedam has virtually no ties to India, had applied for US citizenship before his arrest, and demonstrated decades of good behavior in prison where he earned three degrees and mentored fellow inmates.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser held a community meeting where residents and protesters pressed her on the D.C. police department's involvement with federal immigration authorities. Bowser pledged to work on separating D.C. police from working alongside ICE and other federal immigration enforcement agencies.

The Trump administration has reduced funding for legal services, mental health care, and other support required under a court settlement meant to reunite families separated at the U.S.-Mexico border during the first Trump presidency, according to the ACLU. At least four families have been deported, and the DOJ has challenged court orders related to the settlement. The settlement required support for separated families.

Alexa Ramírez was deported to Mexico in October 2025 after being arrested during Operation Midway Blitz, while her husband Alexander Villeda remains detained in Michigan. The couple was arrested eight days after getting married at the Swap-O-Rama market in Chicago. Ramírez is in her hometown in Oaxaca and Villeda is fighting his immigration case from detention in Michigan.

Ihsanullah Garay, a 38-year-old Afghan asylum seeker with stage II brain cancer, was detained by ICE in Methuen on September 14 after a chance encounter revealed his student visa had expired. Despite having work authorization through 2029, no criminal record, and an ongoing asylum claim, Garay was arrested and subsequently transferred to a detention facility in Georgia, preventing him from attending critical medical appointments at Boston Medical Center. His condition has deteriorated significantly in custody, and he now requires a wheelchair and experiences daily seizures.

Leo Martinez, a volunteer with VC Defensa, was arrested by federal agents after a collision involving an ICE vehicle on October 16, 2025. Video evidence showed an ICE Jeep ramming Martinez's Nissan truck. Martinez was released the same day at a federal facility in Los Angeles, and the U.S. Attorney's Office declined to pursue charges.

The ACLU of Colorado and immigrant advocates filed a lawsuit against three Trump immigration officials alleging indiscriminate ICE arrests in Colorado that violate federal law. The lawsuit represents four detained individuals, including a 19-year-old University of Utah student arrested after a traffic stop, and alleges that immigration officials are making arrests without probable cause or flight risk determinations, and making assumptions about citizenship status based on accent and skin color.

Robby Roadsteamer, a comedian and activist, was shot with pepper-spray balls by ICE officers on a rooftop and then detained at an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon while dressed as a giraffe and singing modified protest songs. He was cited for failing to comply with orders and trespassing, and plans to sue ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE agents and an immigrant rights activist named Leo Martinez disputed who rammed whose vehicle during an enforcement operation near 8th and A streets in Oxnard. ICE agents told police that Martinez's truck rammed their vehicle, but activist group VC Defensa released video footage claiming federal agents intentionally struck Martinez's truck. Martinez was arrested and later released with pending charges.

Eduardo Aguilar, a 23-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico, was federally charged for making threats against ICE agents on social media. Aguilar allegedly posted in Spanish calling for armed individuals and offering money for each ICE agent killed. He appeared before a federal judge in Dallas who ordered him held in federal custody pending trial.

Queer and trans immigrants detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center alleged they were forced into an unsanctioned work program performing hard manual labor for minimal pay, and sexually harassed and assaulted by an assistant warden named Manuel Reyes between 2023 and 2025. Detainees reported facing medical neglect, retaliation for reporting abuse, and having their complaints systematically ignored by ICE officials. Four detainees filed administrative complaints under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and civil rights complaints were submitted to DHS oversight bodies by RFK Human Rights, the ACLU of Louisiana, and the National Immigration Project.

An ICE raid at a car wash in Hamden, Connecticut occurred on [date if available]. Local officials reported on the operation.

Juan Barbosa Gomez, a 60-year-old Mexican national with a valid work visa and clean criminal record, was arrested by ICE officers on October 15 in Portland, Oregon. His family claims the arrest was wrongful and says he has lived and worked legally in the U.S. for over 30 years. Since his arrest, Barbosa has been transferred between multiple detention facilities across three states and does not appear on ICE's online detainee locator, leaving his family unable to locate him or mount a legal defense.

Melissa Tran, a Vietnamese refugee and Maryland mother of five who legally immigrated in 1993, was detained by ICE for over five months following a routine check-in due to a non-violent theft conviction from 2001. After a federal judge ordered her release, finding the detention unnecessary, Tran was freed and required to wear an ankle monitor while reporting to ICE authorities. She described harsh detention conditions including poor hygiene facilities and being transported shackled across multiple states, though she now faces potential deportation despite her two decades of clean immigration status.

An Instagram post from the House Oversight Committee states that Andrea is one of over 170 U.S. citizens who have been detained by ICE. The post indicates these detentions should not have occurred and calls for accountability from Kristi Noem and the Trump Administration.

Recent ICE enforcement actions in the Chicago area included Facebook suspending a community sighting group used to warn residents of ICE activity near schools and businesses, which Facebook cited a Trump administration request as the reason for. Reports include a man being detained without proper documentation and ICE agents pursuing individuals onto private property despite homeowner objections.

A 15-year-old U.S. citizen was detained by Customs and Border Patrol agents on Chicago's East Side after federal agents deployed tear gas at a crash scene. According to his attorneys, the teen was slammed to the ground, zip-tied, and held in a garage for five hours without being booked, read his rights, or allowed to contact his mother. DHS stated the teen was arrested for allegedly throwing an egg at an agent, taken to an FBI field office where he admitted to the action, and released without charges.

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.