Human Impact Project

Hayam El Gamal, a mother of five detained at the Dilley Immigration Detention Center in Texas, was taken to the emergency room on April 9 after weeks of being denied medical care for an abnormal chest growth. She had been requesting a CT scan since February 17, but center officials repeatedly denied the referral, instead offering only ibuprofen and generic advice. When finally taken to the ER, she rated her pain as 11 out of 10. The ER CT scan revealed fluid around her heart (pericardial effusion), and the ER doctor recommended an ultrasound, which DHS, ICE, and CoreCivic subsequently denied. Three independent physicians reviewed her case and concluded that ICE and CoreCivic are systematically denying her medical care and that her condition poses an urgent threat to her health and potentially her life. El Gamal and her four minor children have been detained at Dilley for over 10 months, far exceeding the 20-day legal limit for detaining children.

A 17-year-old Hispanic minor was detained by ICE agents at a Target store in Richfield, Minnesota, during Operation Metro Surge. Federal Judge Eric Tostrud concluded that the minor was detained solely because of his race or ethnicity, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The incident is part of an ongoing ACLU lawsuit challenging ICE's racial profiling practices in Minnesota.

A 24-year-old Hispanic man and City University of New York graduate was arrested by federal agents on his way to the Long Island Rail Road in Hempstead. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The incident is part of a class action lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting immigrants in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

A 36-year-old Hispanic man was arrested by federal agents while entering his apartment building in Bushwick, Brooklyn, after coming home from work. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The incident is part of a class action lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting immigrants in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

Juan Carlos Quintero, 41, was arrested by federal agents in three unmarked cars while watching a game of dominos in Staten Island after saying he did not have an ID. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The NYCLU, Make the Road New York, and the Legal Aid Society filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of eight immigrants, alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting people in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

Javier Rodriguez Gonzalez, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. as a child in 1989, was arrested by ICE on April 9, 2026, after reporting to the Santa Ana Enforcement and Removal Operations office. He is married with six U.S. citizen children and has a pending application for adjustment of status. The court granted his request for an individualized bond hearing while denying his request for immediate release.

Hilda Sucely R.M.D.E., mother of two U.S. citizen children who lived in the U.S. for nearly 25 years, was arrested by immigration authorities on April 9, 2026, when she appeared for a fingerprinting appointment in connection with seeking relief under the Violence Against Women Act. She had been released on bond after entering without inspection in 2003 and had an in absentia removal order from September 2003 that she never received notice of. The court ordered her immediate release from immigration detention, finding violations of federal regulations requiring pre-deprivation process.

Diego Cabrera Gonzalez, a 9-year-old with cerebral palsy, and his family from Ecuador face possible deportation after an immigration hearing scheduled for later in April. The family came to the U.S. in 2023 seeking medical care for Diego, who has undergone four surgeries and has improved significantly since arriving. Their legal case was jeopardized when they hired someone who failed to properly file asylum paperwork, but they have since secured new legal representation and are fundraising to cover legal fees.

Washington state won a federal court ruling in November 2025 allowing health inspections at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, operated by private contractor GEO Group. However, state inspectors have been denied entry nine times since 2023, including after the court ruling. Advocacy groups report over 3,500 detainee complaints including concerns about religious accommodations during Ramadan, food quality, and medical care.

Brandon, a U.S. citizen, was detained for eight hours at the Whipple building during Operation Metro Surge and reported appalling detention conditions including unresponsive guards, unsanitary facilities, and interrogations. After his release, he was hit with pepper balls and exposed to tear gas and flash bangs as ICE agents confronted a protest outside the facility.

Mahadin Hussein Nour is currently in custody of ICE at the Joe Corley Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. He filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus challenging his continued confinement and a motion for a temporary restraining order seeking immediate release. The court ordered the respondent to file an answer by April 17, 2026, and established procedures for the case.

Haiyang Wang, a petitioner detained at Desert View Annex Detention Facility following a routine immigration check, filed for immediate release from custody through a habeas corpus petition. She argued her ongoing detention constitutes constitutional deprivation and feared potential transfer to another facility would impair her access to counsel. The court denied her emergency application for temporary restraining order but ordered the government to show cause why habeas relief should not be granted under an expedited briefing schedule.

Mouhamed Nasim Asmi Toloza is being detained by ICE at the Dodge County Detention Facility in Juneau, Wisconsin. He filed a habeas corpus petition arguing he should be categorized under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) rather than § 1225(b)(2), which would require an individualized assessment before continued detention. The court denied his motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent transfer to another detention facility.

Azael Torres Berruecos, a native of Mexico, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his immigration detention that has lasted nearly two years. The court found his petition unclear about whether he is detained under pre-removal or post-removal statutes. The court denied his motions for emergency relief and appointed counsel but ordered the government to respond and clarify the legal basis for his continued detention.

Jose Ivar Pineda Campos, an asylum seeker from Nicaragua, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) without a prior hearing before a neutral decisionmaker. The court granted a temporary restraining order for his release and issued a preliminary injunction barring further detention without a pre-detention hearing. The court also prohibited transferring Pineda Campos out of the district without prior approval.

Aurelio Ixcox Chum, a Guatemalan national, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and held at Mesa Verde Detention Center. Government alleged he ran upon seeing officers and resisted arrest, and had no pending applications for relief with immigration authorities. The Eastern District of California granted his motion for preliminary injunction and ordered respondents to provide him with a bond hearing before a neutral arbiter within seven days.

Ren Xun Lin, detained at Imperial Regional Detention Facility, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his prolonged immigration detention without a bond hearing as a due process violation. The government conceded and the court ordered a bond hearing within seven days where the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that Lin poses a danger or flight risk. The court declined to order immediate release.

Mikayel Mikoyan, an immigration detainee held at the Adelanto Detention Facility by ICE, filed a habeas corpus petition claiming his detention violated his Fifth Amendment due process rights. The government did not oppose his motion for temporary restraining order. The court granted the motion and ordered his immediate release from immigration detention.

U.S. Rep. André Carson visited Miami Correctional Facility and spoke with detainees who reported systemic issues including a nonfunctioning intercom system, delayed medical care, inadequate healthcare, barriers to legal services, and lack of access to basic necessities. Two detainees, Lorth Sim and Tuan Van Bui, died in custody in February and April 2026. Carson is calling for a full investigation into both deaths and for the closure of the ICE detention center.

A tattoo artist organized a fundraiser flash day on April 10th at a tattoo shop in Fort Lauderdale to raise money for attorney fees and living expenses after her 65-year-old father was detained by ICE. The father is the primary provider for the family, including her mother who requires full-time care and two disabled sisters.

Nairoby Cabrera posted on Instagram requesting financial assistance for her son, Daniel Zamora, who is currently detained by ICE. The family is seeking funds to cover legal fees and immigration bond costs to provide him with adequate legal representation.

Brian José Morales García, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen born in Denver, Colorado, was stopped by Border Patrol agents near Fredericksburg, Texas on April 7, 2026. During the traffic stop, Morales repeatedly asserted his U.S. citizenship and offered to provide his birth certificate, Social Security card, and other documentation to verify his status, but agents refused to verify his claims and accused him of fraud. Morales stated he signed voluntary removal papers out of fear of imprisonment and separation from his daughter. He was deported to Mexico on April 9, 2026. The Department of Homeland Security disputed his account, claiming agents had identified him as a Mexican national through records and that he admitted to entering the U.S. illegally. His family has questioned the legality of the deportation process.

Ying-Hsi Chou, a Taiwanese citizen living in South Australia, faces deportation within 28 days due to a visa application error from 2012 in which she failed to declare a previous visit to Australia. She is married to an Australian citizen and has three Australian-born children. If deported, she would be separated from her family and must wait at least three years before reapplying for an Australian visa.

Jesús Eduardo Marín, a Venezuelan father of three who entered the U.S. 12 years ago, was detained by Border Patrol during a traffic stop on April 8. He has been in asylum proceedings. Agents stopped him after identifying his vehicle's license plates as belonging to a non-citizen. His family is raising funds for legal representation and bail.

Miguel Rosas Ruiz, a Mexican-born business owner and father of four from Ypsilanti, was detained by ICE on March 10, 2026, while driving to work on Carpenter Road. He is being held at the North Lake Detention Center in Baldwin. His daughter, Morelia Rosas Martinez, spoke publicly about the emotional impact of his detention on their family and others affected by immigration enforcement. The Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor City Councils passed resolutions advocating for his release and a bond hearing.

Gilberto Garcia, a 26-year-old DACA recipient with autism and intellectual disability, was forcibly detained by ICE agents at his home in Hendry County, Florida on April 8, 2026. According to his family and community advocates, ICE agents entered his yard and placed him in a chokehold while detaining him, and when his mother attempted to intervene, agents allegedly threatened to tase her and pushed her back. Garcia has no criminal history and no outstanding deportation order; his DACA status had expired on April 1 while awaiting renewal processing. He was booked at Hendry County Jail on a charge of resisting arrest without violence and released after about a week in detention. The Florida Immigrant Coalition and United We Dream called the detention "a deeply troubling and potentially unlawful detention."

Jose Yugar-Cruz, a Bolivian citizen and torture survivor, entered the U.S. through Arizona in summer 2024 and was immediately detained by border officials. Although his asylum application was denied, a federal judge granted him withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture, which prevents his deportation to Bolivia. While detained, DHS attempted to send him to Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, and Canada. After filing a writ of habeas corpus, he was released and began rebuilding his life in Iowa. On April 8, 2026, during what he believed was a routine ICE check-in, officers re-detained him and placed him on a manifest for deportation to the Democratic Republic of Congo—a country experiencing war and an Ebola outbreak where he had no ties and was scheduled for removal on April 15. His attorney filed an emergency motion the same day; a federal judge barred DHS from removing him outside the country pending further notice, and he was released on May 29, 2026. At his next ICE check-in, over 250 supporters, including activists, clergy, and elected officials, attended to prevent further detention.

A 35-year-old mother of two was detained by ICE agents in an unmarked van outside a New Jersey courthouse after testifying as a witness in a sexual assault case. She was subsequently forced to self-deport from the United States.

Octavio Andrade-Aguilera, a Mexican national, was transferred to ICE custody at the Etowah County Detention Center in Alabama on April 5, 2026, after a federal judge in Chattanooga had ordered his release to avoid harming his wife and disabled American citizen daughter. Andrade-Aguilera is the sole financial support for his family and faces federal charges for reentering the country without authorization.

Bernadette Gamez, 36, of Modesto, and Wendy Villagran, 22, of Stockton, were arrested Tuesday evening after police said they painted 'ICE OUT' on a public roadway during a demonstration near Doctors Medical Center. Both were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime. The protest was organized in response to an ICE shooting incident in nearby Patterson. The city's Public Works Department is working to remove the graffiti.

A pregnant Venezuelan woman was arrested by ICE while traveling to a medical center in Seattle. Her 10-month-old baby was also taken into ICE custody during the operation. According to local police, the arrest was executed by the Department of Homeland Security based on a criminal court order allegedly related to human trafficking allegations, not immigration violations.

Tucker Collins, an 18-year-old USC freshman, lost his right eye after a Department of Homeland Security officer fired a less-lethal projectile at him during a "No Kings" rally near the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles. Collins was attending the protest to take photos when he was struck directly in the eye, destroying his eyeball and fracturing bones in his eye socket. He is preparing to file a federal civil rights lawsuit against DHS, alleging the officer violated a federal injunction.

ICE agents arrested a U.S. citizen in Chicago after alleging she made a threat. The woman and onlookers disputed the allegation. Agents forced her to the ground and zip-tied her hands. The arrest followed a failed ICE attempt to access a nearby laundromat, where protesters had gathered.

ICE detained a mother of a newly enlisted U.S. military member without warning or explanation. The woman had lived in the United States for over 35 years, paid taxes since 1992, and worked in the courts.

ICE agents arrested a nursing student in his 20s from Southern Connecticut State University on Main Street in Middletown on Tuesday, April 1st, after following him from the courthouse and blocking in his vehicle at the intersection of Main and Court streets. Middletown Mayor Gene Nocera said local police were not notified of the operation and the man was not a city resident. In response, protesters gathered on Saturday, April 4th at Washington and Main streets to oppose the arrest and ICE enforcement activity in the area, with an additional rally scheduled for Monday outside the university library demanding the student's release. The Trump administration launched "Operation Catch of the Day," an ICE enforcement operation in Maine targeting noncitizens the administration claims have criminal records. ICE agents identified nearly 1,400 individuals for potential detention in Portland, prompting criticism from local officials and Democratic state leaders who questioned the tactics and raised concerns about impacts on Maine's Somali American community.

Stephanie Kenny-Velasquez, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national and wife of a U.S. Army Reserve Black Hawk pilot, was detained by ICE in Houston on December 5, 2025, during a routine check-in despite having been released in 2021 pending her asylum claim and consistently complying with all required appointments and hearings. She was held at the Houston Contract Detention Facility for approximately four months. A federal judge found due-process violations and ordered her release within 48 hours, permitting her to continue her immigration case outside of detention. Kenny-Velasquez reported poor conditions including overcrowding (60 women), lack of privacy, inadequate food, anxiety attacks, and limited access to medical care.

Qu Feng, a Chinese national, was held in prolonged immigration detention without a bond hearing, which he challenged as a violation of due process. The government conceded that Feng should receive a bond hearing where they would bear the burden of proving he poses a danger or flight risk. The court granted the habeas petition and ordered a bond hearing within seven days.

Efrain C.G., a Mexican citizen who entered the U.S. in 1993 and has been working since arrival, was arrested by ICE on April 7, 2026, at the Fresno County Superior Courthouse while inquiring about charges from a December 2025 domestic violence incident. He had no prior criminal history except traffic violations and no prior immigration history. The court ordered he receive a bond hearing within 14 days or be immediately released.

Lydia Rabara Swinburne, a 39-year-old Filipino national, was detained by ICE on April 7, 2026, during a green card interview after local authorities arrested her on domestic violence charges that were later dropped. On May 2, while in custody at the California City ICE facility, she suffered a medical emergency after being given unrecognized medication; her husband alleges a medication error occurred. A federal judge ordered her release on May 18 after her family filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her detention.

A man was arrested by DHS federal agents in the 500 block of Moffet Road in Lake Bluff on Tuesday morning. The Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights reported it as an immigration arrest, though DHS has not confirmed the reason. Video showed the man telling agents he does not speak English as they asked about weapons and referenced his paperwork. Lake Bluff Police were not present and DHS had not communicated with local authorities about the arrest.

A student group at University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School held a letter-writing event on April 7, 2026, in support of immigrants detained at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. Nearly 20 law faculty and students participated, writing letters of encouragement to detainees at the facility.

Annie Yaritza Ramos Alvarado, a 22-year-old Honduran national and wife of U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew Blank, was detained by ICE on April 2, 2026, at Fort Polk, Louisiana while attempting to register as a military spouse. According to DHS, she entered the country unlawfully as a toddler in 2005 and has no legal status. She was released on April 7 under supervision with GPS monitoring while removal proceedings continue.

Otofu Ayaku, a UT Austin graduate originally from Nigeria, was arrested during a traffic stop in March and detained for approximately one month in two Houston-area facilities. Though their criminal charges were dropped, Ayaku was released on bond with an ankle monitor while their immigration case continues. Ayaku has described their detention experience as dystopian, noting the lack of privacy and control, and has remained connected to other detained migrants they met during their time in custody.

Carmen F., an immigrant from South America, called police on her abusive husband and he was deported. She applied for a U visa, which provides crime victims a pathway to permanent residency if they cooperate with law enforcement. However, with a backlog causing wait times exceeding 15 years, the Trump administration has been deporting U visa applicants contrary to longstanding ICE policy. Carmen was detained and deported back to her home country with her young son, where her abusive ex-husband was waiting at the airport.

A father of two disabled children was deported to Mexico after being pulled over by ICE while driving to his drywall installation job. The deportation occurred despite his family obligations and care responsibilities for his disabled children.

Salah Sarsour, 53, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and a lawful permanent resident for over 32 years, was detained by ICE on March 30, 2026, after being pulled over while driving in the Milwaukee area. DHS alleged he provided false information on his 1998 green card application, citing convictions from an Israeli military court when he was a minor for throwing Molotov cocktails and weapons possession. Despite having no U.S. criminal record, being married to a U.S. citizen, and having six U.S. citizen children, he was transferred to detention facilities in Chicago and Clay County jail in Indiana. Within 24 hours, the Muslim Legal Fund of America filed in federal court seeking immediate relief. His attorneys disputed the allegations and claimed he was being targeted for his Palestinian background and pro-Palestinian advocacy, noting that U.S. authorities had long known about the prior convictions.

Haydee Mercado-Rodriguez, 34, of El Salvador, was arrested April 9, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE identified her as an MS-13 gang member and foreign fugitive convicted in El Salvador of homicide-related and other offenses. She remains in custody pending removal. Minh Duy Tong Nguyen, 54, of Vietnam, was arrested April 16, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE reported he was convicted of murder in Houston in 1991 and had a longstanding removal order. He remains in custody pending removal. Carlos Carmona-Palomo, 29, of Mexico, was arrested April 6, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE identified him as a foreign fugitive wanted for homicide. He was deported April 21, 2026. Leobardo Nieves-Vasquez, 35, of Mexico, was arrested April 7, 2026, during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas. ICE reported he was convicted of intoxication manslaughter in Angelina County, Texas. He was deported April 9, 2026. Eric Eusevio Cortez, 44, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Manuel Navarrete-Arellano, 43, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Yeslin Orellana Manchame, 30, of Honduras, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported she had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Filiberto Aleman Sanchez, 55, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Brian Rivera Santoyo, 22, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Heros Cantu, 33, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Jose Artemio Sanchez-Garcia, 61, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes. Javier Ramirez, a U.S. citizen and single father of two, was arrested during a Border Patrol roving patrol at a tow yard in Montebello and charged in federal court with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. According to a federal criminal complaint, agents conducted a roving patrol and engaged subjects in a consensual encounter in a parking lot on West Olympic Boulevard. Security camera video showed agents entering the fenced property, and Ramirez was wrestled to the ground while shouting. His attorney contests the charges, stating that Ramirez did not assault anyone, raised his hands when confronted, and was not attempting to flee. The incident occurred as part of broader Border Patrol enforcement operations in Southern California. Pedro Joel Martinez, 52, of El Salvador, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. Some individuals with such convictions have been deported while others remain in custody pending removal proceedings. Cristian Muratalla Rodriguez, 29, of Mexico, was arrested during an ICE enforcement operation in Southeast Texas between April 6 and April 17, 2026. ICE reported he had prior convictions related to drug offenses, immigration violations, or other crimes.

Cristina Mejia, 21, has assumed responsibility for her household in Waco, Texas, after her mother Elizabeth was detained by ICE on January 5, 2026, following an altercation. She now manages bills and cares for her two younger brothers, ages 16 and 5, while her mother awaits case updates at a detention facility in Houston. Mejia has limited contact with her mother through three daily phone calls and started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover family expenses during the separation.

Juan Chavez Velasco, a 35-year-old DACA recipient who arrived in the U.S. from Colombia at age 8, was detained by ICE agents on February 18, 2025, while traveling to deliver breast milk to his premature infant daughter in a hospital NICU in South Texas. Despite holding active DACA status since 2012, being a college graduate working as a medical lab specialist with no criminal history, and having a wife and U.S. citizen children, Velasco was detained based on a 2005 removal order issued before his DACA approval. DHS argued that DACA does not confer legal status. He was held in a Texas detention center for seven weeks, during which his DACA status expired despite a court order requiring renewal. His attorney argues the detention reflects shifting political priorities regarding DACA's scope, effectively separating Velasco from his newborn and family. Juan Chavez Velasco, a DACA recipient since 2012 and medical lab specialist, was detained by ICE agents outside his Weslaco home while en route to deliver breastmilk to his 6-week-old daughter in the NICU. Chavez Velasco is married to a U.S. citizen and has four U.S. citizen children. His attorney argues he is being targeted amid shifting political priorities regarding DACA protections, as he has no criminal history. JeanCarlos Fiallos Manzanares, a 32-year-old DACA recipient from Miami, was detained by ICE in May 2025 after officers appeared at his mother's home while he was dropping off his children. He has remained in an ICE detention center in New Mexico for ten months despite receiving approval for his DACA renewal. He filed a lawsuit challenging his detention, and a U.S. District judge found the government should respond to his petition, but no public filings have occurred since January. Juan Chavez Velasco, a 35-year-old DACA recipient with valid work authorization since 2012 and no criminal history, was detained by ICE agents on February 18, 2026, outside his home in Weslaco, Texas while driving to deliver breast milk to his 6-week-old premature daughter in the NICU. DHS cited a 2005 removal order and claimed DACA does not confer legal status. Velasco's DACA status expired while detained at a Texas detention center, and his renewal application from the previous fall remained unprocessed by the Trump administration despite a court order to process renewals. His detention separated him from his U.S. citizen spouse and family.

Godfrey Wade, a 65-year-old Jamaican-born U.S. Army veteran and lawful permanent resident who lived in the United States for over 50 years, was deported to Jamaica on February 5, 2026, while his appeal was pending before the Board of Immigration Appeals. Wade's deportation was based on a 2014 removal order stemming from 2006 misdemeanor convictions for simple assault and reckless conduct, and a bad check charge. Wade's legal team argued serious due process defects, claiming he never received proper notification of the original removal hearing because court documents were sent to an incorrect address and returned by the Postal Service. He was detained by ICE for nearly five months after being pulled over in September 2025 for driving without a valid driver's license, which he could not renew due to green card renewal delays. Congressional offices from both parties contacted the Department of Homeland Security seeking intervention before the deportation.