HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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1976 incidents with known locations

168 of 2421 incidents

← NewerMay 2026Apr 2026

Man arrested by masked ICE officers on Hartford street despite state law ban

May 18, 2026Hartford, CTHonduras

Alejandro Josue Cervantes-Mencia was arrested by ICE officers on Lafayette Street in Hartford on May 18, 2026. Several officers wore masks and lacked clear identification, violating Connecticut's recently signed law prohibiting immigration officers from wearing masks during enforcement actions. According to ICE, Cervantes-Mencia entered the U.S. illegally in 2016 and had a final removal order issued by an immigration judge on April 5, 2022. He was also facing state charges for possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell.

Father detained by ICE in California, family secures bond funds with legal aid help

May 18, 2026

A father was detained by ICE on February 26, 2026, in Escondido, California, while on his way to pick up his children from school. His family exhausted their savings on legal fees and fell three months behind on rent while seeking to secure his release. By May 18, 2026, with assistance from legal aid organization Clue Justice, the family secured the remaining funds needed for his $4,000 bond, and he was set to be released. The legal aid organization warned that DHS may appeal the case if release did not occur quickly.

Venezuelan immigrant shot in leg by ICE agent, federal charges dismissed, agent charged with assault

May 18, 2026Minneapolis, MNVenezuela

On January 14, 2026, ICE agent Christian Castro shot Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg during an enforcement operation in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge. Castro fired through a duplex door while pursuing another man; Sosa-Celis did not pose a threat at the time. Castro initially claimed Sosa-Celis and others attacked him with a shovel and broom, but video evidence contradicted this account, showing only a brief 12-second struggle. Federal charges against Sosa-Celis and his roommate were dismissed in February after the Justice Department acknowledged that ICE agents made false statements under oath. On May 18, 2026, Hennepin County prosecutors charged Castro with four counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and one count of falsely reporting a crime, with a nationwide arrest warrant issued. The incident prompted ICE to place agents on administrative leave with potential termination or criminal prosecution pending, and contributed to a 12% nationwide decline in ICE arrests.

Oklahoma man charged with smuggling 42 migrants in sealed trailer at checkpoint

May 16, 2026Sarita, TX

Juan Nasario-Reyes, 43, was arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita after authorities discovered 42 migrants concealed in his tractor-trailer. The trailer was sealed with no means of escape, and contained minimal supplies despite temperatures of 92.5 degrees. He also faces charges for possessing approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine found in his cab.

Mother deported to Honduras; toddler son dies in caregiver's custody while ICE denies reunification

May 16, 2026Bay Minette, ALCentral America

Wendy Hernandez Reyes, a 29-year-old undocumented immigrant and domestic violence survivor with no criminal record, was detained by Baldwin County sheriff's deputies in Alabama on January 8, 2026, during a traffic stop. After ICE was contacted, Hernandez repeatedly requested her release to care for her 2-year-old U.S. citizen son, Orlin, but was denied. She was deported to Honduras on January 26, 2026, without her son and was forced to leave him in the care of her brother-in-law, Samuel Maldonado Erazo. On March 4, 2026, Orlin died from multiple blunt force traumas inflicted by Maldonado, who was charged with first-degree murder. A federal court reopened a case against the Department of Homeland Security alleging ICE officials failed to follow safety protocols during separation and lacked a reunification plan, while ICE blamed Hernandez for leaving her son with the relative.

Vietnamese immigrant dies in ICE custody at Indiana facility; advocates demand reform

May 16, 2026Miami Correctional Center, INVietnam

Tuan Van Bui, a 55-year-old Vietnamese national who legally entered the U.S. in 1990 under the Amerasian Homecoming Act, died on April 1, 2026, at Miami Correctional Facility in Bunker Hill, Indiana while in ICE custody. Staff found him unresponsive, initiated CPR, and called emergency services; he was pronounced dead at 6:10 p.m. His autopsy ruled the death natural, caused by hypertensive arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Bui had been ordered removed from the country by an immigration judge in 2005 and was challenging his detention through a habeas corpus petition at the time of his death. His death was the second at the facility since October 2025, prompting the ACLU of Indiana to call for transparency and advocates to organize a statewide day of action on May 16, 2026, with over 70 protesters rallying at the Allen County Courthouse in Fort Wayne.

Bridgeport man detained by ICE at school bus stop while waiting with 16-year-old son

May 15, 2026Bridgeport, CTEl Salvador

Javier Anibal Melgar was detained by ICE officers on May 15, 2026, while sitting in his vehicle with his 16-year-old son waiting for a school bus on Park Avenue in Bridgeport, Connecticut. ICE stated that Melgar is from El Salvador, entered the country illegally in 2005, and had a final removal order issued by an immigration judge in October 2006. Officers allowed Melgar to contact his wife to arrange transportation for their son before taking him into custody. Connecticut lawmakers condemned the arrest as a violation of ICE's sensitive location policies and called it executive overreach. Melgar's current location remains unknown.

Man shouted for help as ICE agents shoved him into vehicle in Chestnut Hill

May 15, 2026Chestnut Hill, MADominican Republic

Edual Rafael Ulloa of Framingham was arrested by Brookline Police on Thursday morning on assault and resisting arrest charges after a motorcycle stop. After being released on bail that evening, he was detained by ICE agents near Boylston and Eliot streets in Chestnut Hill. Video showed agents forcibly placing him into a vehicle as he shouted for help and asked for water, claiming he had asthma and needed a hospital. ICE agents threatened to handcuff a bystander filming the incident.

Federal judge orders ICE to release DACA recipient detained without hearing

May 15, 2026CAHonduras

Jose Francisco Orellana-Rivera, a Honduran who entered the U.S. as a 4-year-old in 2001 and is a DACA recipient married to a U.S. citizen with two U.S.-citizen children, was detained by ICE without a pre-detention hearing. U.S. District Judge Hernán D. Vera ruled the detention violated his constitutional rights and due process protections, ordering ICE to release him immediately and barred re-detention without a proper bond hearing. He was arrested six times as an adult between 2016 and 2025, but all charges were dismissed and he has no criminal convictions.

Cancer patient detained over a year at Arizona ICE facility as health deteriorates, lawmakers and advocates demand release

May 15, 2026Eloy, AZ

Arbella "Yari" Rodríguez Márquez, a green card holder, was arrested at a border checkpoint in Nogales, Arizona in February 2025 and detained at Eloy Detention Center. She has chronic lymphocytic leukemia that was in remission before her detention but has since returned and worsened while in custody. Her health has significantly deteriorated, with symptoms including weight loss (55 pounds), anemia, vomiting blood, and the development of new chronic conditions requiring a walker. Over a year into her detention, state legislators, members of Congress, civil rights organizations, and advocacy groups including Trans Queer Pueblo have called for her humanitarian release. ICE denies allegations of medical neglect, stating she has received 13 medical appointments during detention.

Diesel mechanic released after 109 days in detention, judge rejects Trump administration detention policy

May 15, 2026Great Falls, MTMexico

Roberto Orozco-Ramirez, a diesel mechanic from Froid, Montana, was arrested by Border Patrol on January 25, 2026, on illegal re-entry charges. After the government dropped the felony charge in April 2026, he remained detained for over 100 days under the Trump administration's expanded mandatory detention policy for undocumented immigrants. On May 14-15, 2026, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Brian Morris ruled that Orozco-Ramirez's continued detention violated due process and constitutional rights, finding the administration's mandatory detention interpretation erroneous. The judge ordered his immediate release from the Cascade County Detention Center. Orozco-Ramirez, a father of four U.S. citizen children with no criminal record, had built a successful diesel repair business after living in the United States for 25 years.

Former Kansas mayor detained by ICE after pleading guilty to voting as noncitizen

May 15, 2026Wichita, KSMexico

Joe Ceballos, 55, a lawful permanent resident and twice-elected former mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, who immigrated from Mexico at age four, was detained by ICE on May 13-14, 2026, after pleading guilty in April 2026 to three misdemeanor counts of disorderly election conduct for voting without U.S. citizenship. Ceballos stated he mistakenly believed his permanent residency status allowed him to vote. He voted in elections in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and disclosed his voting history voluntarily during a naturalization interview. Under his plea deal, he received one year probation with a suspended six-month jail sentence, a $2,000 fine, and court fees. ICE subsequently initiated removal proceedings, citing voting as a removable offense, and took Ceballos into custody at its detention facility in Wichita, where he now faces potential deportation to Mexico.

Five people arrested by ICE in Geneva; one U.S. citizen swarmed at gas station

May 14, 2026Geneva, NY

On May 14, 2026, ICE allegedly arrested at least five people in Geneva, New York. One person, a U.S. citizen, was arrested at a Byrne Dairy gas station. Four other men were stopped while driving to work, detained, and their vehicle was left abandoned. One of the five was later released after providing proof of citizenship. The arrests prompted community protests and rallies organized by local advocacy groups.

Ecuadorian Man Detained by ICE Without Bond Hearing at Otay Mesa

May 14, 2026Ecuador

Marlon Juvenal Chavez Merchan, a native and citizen of Ecuador, is currently detained at Otay Mesa Detention Facility in ICE custody. He filed a habeas corpus petition alleging that ICE violated his due process rights by detaining him without a bond determination hearing. The court conditionally appointed counsel and issued a limited stay to prevent his removal from the district pending a reasoned decision.

Immigration activists' homes raided, teenager handcuffed during federal search operation

May 14, 2026Oxnard, CAMexico

Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations executed coordinated search warrants on May 13-14, 2026, targeting VC Defensa, an immigrant rights organization in Ventura County, California. Over 100 agents raided the homes of multiple volunteers and the organization's Oxnard office, seizing electronic devices including phones, computers, and USB drives. During the operations, agents pointed guns at residents, handcuffed activist Leonardo Martinez and the 16-year-old son of volunteer Alexandria Quintanar, and broke down doors. No arrests were made and authorities did not publicly disclose the basis for the searches or specific criminal allegations. All detainees were released from federal custody, and VC Defensa and allied organizations stated they would contest the raids in court.

Trans activist Suzy Gerónimo detained by ICE, reports unsafe conditions at Georgia facility

May 14, 2026Lumpkin, GA

Suzy Gerónimo, a transgender activist and founder of Fuerza y Unión Múltiple in North Carolina, was detained by ICE following a traffic stop in Franklin County in March 2026 and transferred to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. She reported being housed in a male unit despite being a transgender woman, and faced harassment, unsafe conditions, lack of Spanish-speaking staff, and inadequate privacy. During her April 28 bail hearing, her legal team announced plans to file an asylum application. A judge ordered DHS to provide accommodations, though implementation has been inconsistent. The community organized support funds and legal defense for her case.

Seven immigrants, including 14-year-old, die from heat in sealed boxcar in Texas

May 14, 2026Laredo, TXMexico, Honduras

Seven people believed to be immigrants from Mexico and Honduras died from heat stroke while being smuggled in a sealed Union Pacific boxcar in South Texas. Six bodies were discovered inside the boxcar at a rail yard in Laredo on May 10, 2026, when temperatures reached 97–105 degrees. The victims ranged in age from 14 to 56, with three from Mexico and three from Honduras. A woman inside the container called her sister reporting dangerous heat and physical distress, prompting a police response. A seventh body was found near railroad tracks in Bexar County, approximately 150 miles north of Laredo, on May 11 and is believed connected to the incident. Authorities attributed the deaths to heat-related illness and contacted the Department of Homeland Security, with federal officials leading the investigation into the human smuggling operation.

Venezuelan mother and two children detained at school bus stop, released after judge's order

May 14, 2026Alamo Heights, TXVenezuela

Maria Betania Uzcategui Castillo, a Venezuelan asylum-seeker with valid work authorization through 2030, and her two elementary school-aged children—Victor Uzcategui-Labrador Jr. (age 11) and Monserrat Uzcategui-Labrador (age 8)—were detained by ICE agents on April 27, 2026, at a school bus stop in Alamo Heights, Texas. The family, who had arrived at the U.S. border in 2021 seeking asylum and had complied with prior immigration requirements with a court date scheduled for 2027, were transported to the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas. The children, both students at Cambridge Elementary in Alamo Heights Independent School District, were reported as deeply traumatized by the detention. Community organizing efforts, including a rally and fundraising campaign that raised over $28,000 for legal fees, followed the arrest. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered their release on May 13, 2026, and the family was released on May 14, pending immigration hearings.

Colombian torture survivor deported to DRC despite CAT protections; judge orders return

May 14, 2026Washington, DCColombia

Adriana Quiroz Zapata, a 53-year-old Colombian national and torture survivor, was detained by ICE in August 2024 after re-entering the United States despite a November 2021 removal order. In February 2025, she passed a Reasonable Fear Interview and received withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). Despite these protections, ICE deported her on April 16, 2026. Unable to deport her to Colombia due to CAT protections and rejected by Mexican immigration authorities, ICE transported her to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country where she has no ties. On May 14, 2026, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to return Quiroz Zapata, ruling the deportation was likely illegal and citing the DRC's inability to provide adequate medical care for her chronic conditions.

ICE pepper-sprayed 47 detainees in overcrowded Mesa facility

May 13, 2026Mesa, AZ

ICE agents pepper-sprayed 47 detainees in an enclosed room at the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in late February, causing at least one detainee to experience a seizure. The incident occurred at a facility designed to hold 157 detainees but was holding 332 at the time, with detainees packed into rooms with double their intended capacity.

Two men detained after fleeing vehicle in Thousand Palms ICE operation

May 13, 2026Thousand Palms, CA

Two undocumented men fled from their vehicle during an ICE operation in Thousand Palms. One man was apprehended inside a business. Both men were confirmed to be undocumented; one had prior arrests for driving under the influence and drug possession, the other had two prior DUI arrests.

Venezuelan doctor detained at airport despite work permit, released after judge orders bail

May 13, 2026TexasVenezuela

Dr. Rubeliz Bolívar, a Venezuelan physician working at South Texas Health System, was detained by CBP in mid-April 2026 at McAllen International Airport while attempting to board a flight with her five-year-old U.S. citizen daughter. CBP claimed she had overstayed a visa that expired in 2017, despite her holding a valid work permit and having a pending green card application and active asylum proceedings. Her daughter was held briefly before being released to her maternal grandparents. After approximately one month in El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, a judge ordered Bolívar's release on bail on May 13, 2026, and she was reunited with her family. Her attorneys are appealing ICE's allegations that she violated visa conditions.

At least 3 immigration arrests reported in Waukegan area on Wednesday

May 13, 2026Waukegan, IL

Federal DHS agents conducted at least three immigration-related arrests in Waukegan on Wednesday morning. The first arrest occurred around 9:30 a.m. near Belvidere Road and Powell Avenue; the second around 11:15 a.m. at a Uline warehouse on Lakeside Drive where a man was detained and transported in an unmarked black SUV; and the third around 10:30 a.m. near Catrachos Restaurant on Green Bay Road. At least one detainee was transported to the ICE processing facility in Broadview.

Father pepper-sprayed by ICE agents after handcuffed, called by customer avoiding payment

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May 13, 2026The Colony, TX

A man was detained by ICE agents in The Colony, Texas after a customer called ICE to avoid paying for auto repair work. According to his daughter, agents pepper-sprayed the man after he was already on the ground and handcuffed. The incident involved an alleged dispute over payment for completed vehicle repairs.

Honduran immigrant's ICE ankle monitor causes skin infection, emotional harm

May 13, 2026Honduras

A Honduran immigrant alleges that improper placement of an electronic ankle monitor by ICE resulted in a skin infection and emotional distress after extended wear of the device. The incident highlights concerns about the physical and psychological effects of electronic monitoring on detained immigrants.

Father detained by ICE in Plainview, attempted suicide three times in custody

May 13, 2026Plainview, NYColombia

Juan Bonilla Lagos, a 32-year-old Colombian national with clinical depression, was arrested by ICE agents in Plainview in October 2024 while sitting in his car with his wife and 5-year-old son. During the arrest, which lasted approximately 12 minutes, agents threatened to break the car window as the child clung to his father and pleaded with agents not to take him. Bonilla Lagos, who entered the U.S. without authorization in 2022, eventually surrendered. While detained in ICE custody following the arrest, he attempted suicide three times. The arrest and prolonged separation caused severe mental health trauma to his wife and children, who experienced depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress.

Noncitizen Detained at Denver Immigration Facility Files Habeas Corpus Petition

May 12, 2026Aurora, CO

Wardy Alfonso Liberato, a noncitizen, is currently detained at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado. He filed a habeas corpus petition seeking immediate release from custody along with a motion for temporary restraining order. The court ordered that respondents cannot remove Liberato from Colorado or the United States until the court or appeals court vacates the order.

Mexican Man Detained by ICE on Way to Work Despite Pending Immigration Case

May 12, 2026San Francisco, CAMexico

Isael Urena Sepulveda, a Mexican citizen who has lived in the U.S. since 2000, was detained by ICE on May 12, 2026 while on his way to work. He had been previously released on bond in 2016 and has a pending application for cancellation of removal, with a scheduled immigration court hearing in March 2027. The court granted a temporary restraining order requiring his immediate release from custody and prohibiting re-detention without a hearing.

Jennifer Santos shackled 30 hours during ICE transport, deportation postponed after 7-month detention

May 12, 2026Honduras

Jennifer Santos, a Colombian national with valid work authorization through 2029, was detained by ICE after attending a routine immigration appointment in Texas on October 15, 2025. She was held for seven months and then transported while shackled at the neck, hands, and feet for 30 hours from Texas to Louisiana for deportation to Honduras. Honduras did not authorize her entry, and she was returned to Texas. Her family alleges ICE subjected her to inhumane treatment and reports she was pursuing permanent residency. Her deportation was subsequently postponed, and her family is requesting she be deported to Colombia instead.

Man with valid ID forcibly removed from vehicle, hand bruised and bleeding

May 12, 2026Cathedral City, CA

Federal agents stopped a man in Cathedral City, California and attempted to forcibly remove him from his vehicle despite his attempts to show valid driver's license identification. Agents dismissed his ID as fake and proceeded to pull him from the car. He was released only after his wife arrived with additional documentation. The man's hand was left bruised and bleeding during the encounter. The Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice reports this is part of a pattern of targeting individuals based on appearance.

Pittsfield man arrested by ICE outside Burger King, held at Plymouth County facility

May 12, 2026Pittsfield, MAColombia

Darwin Andres Gordon-Ruiz, 20, a Pittsfield High School 2025 graduate originally from Colombia, was arrested by ICE on Tuesday outside a Burger King parking lot. Witnesses described the arrest as violent and chaotic. He is currently being held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility and filed a habeas corpus petition. Gordon-Ruiz is also facing charges in Berkshire County Superior Court including two counts of rape and one count of providing alcohol to a minor.

Sinaloa Cartel trafficker deported mid-sentence after extradition to U.S.

May 12, 2026

Ramon Santoyo-Cristobal was a convicted Sinaloa Cartel trafficker sentenced to eight years in prison after law enforcement extradited him to the U.S. in 2020. Two years into his prison stint, ICE moved him into deportation proceedings.

Assault defendant deported two weeks before arraignment in Colorado

May 12, 2026Colorado, CO

Juan Benitez-Ortega was deported two weeks before his arraignment in Colorado on charges that he strangled his girlfriend. He was charged with second-degree assault but the case has been abandoned.

Key witness to daughter's murder, ICE attempted deportation before testimony

May 12, 2026

Carmelo Gonzalez was likely a key witness in the case against his 11-year-old daughter's abuser and killer in February. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to deport him before he could testify.

Former NFL linebacker detained by ICE for months after visa overstay

May 12, 2026Miami, IN

Daniel Ojambo Adongo, 36, a former Indianapolis Colts linebacker and the first Kenyan to sign with an NFL team in 2013, has been detained by ICE at the Miami Correctional Facility in Indiana since September 11, 2025. Adongo overstayed his visa after his NFL career ended in 2015 and has a history of arrests by Indiana law enforcement for crimes including intimidation, battery, and disorderly conduct. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on March 23, 2026. The facility has been nicknamed the "Speedway Slammer" by Trump officials.

17-year-old honors student left alone after mother deported to Mexico following ICE arrest

May 12, 2026New Jersey, NJMexico

Patricia Balbuena Soto, a 49-year-old mother who had lived in the United States for 30 years, was arrested at her workplace in Atlantic City on July 24, 2025, on criminal charges including home invasion burglary and weapon possession. She was transferred to ICE custody on July 25 and held at Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey, then Port Isabel in Texas. On August 5, 2025, she was deported to Mexico, leaving behind her 17-year-old U.S. citizen daughter. The teenager, an honors student, was forced to abandon her college plans and assume financial responsibility for herself at age 17.

Colombian immigrant detained by ICE despite approved green card petition, lawyer error

May 12, 2026PAColombia

Juan David Arango-Caicedo, a 28-year-old Colombian immigrant who had lived legally in the U.S. for over three years, was detained by ICE at a check-in appointment in May 2026. He became temporarily out of status when his lawyer failed to meet a deadline to file necessary paperwork following his marriage to a U.S. citizen, Nicole, despite having an approved green card petition from USCIS and valid work authorization. He was held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center while his wife pursued legal proceedings for his release. Arango-Caicedo was among 4,400 people whom federal judges determined were unlawfully detained by ICE during President Donald Trump's administration.

LA restaurant owner detained by ICE after worker reports firearm violation

May 12, 2026Los Angeles, CAGuatemala

Carlos Lool, owner and chef of La Granja Rotisserie and Fuego Rotisserie in South Los Angeles, was detained by ICE agents on May 10, 2026, while picking up supplies for a catering event. According to witnesses, masked agents followed their vehicle and forcibly removed Lool with guns drawn, placing him on the floor at gunpoint. The detention followed a report from a former employee claiming a firearm was kept at the restaurant in violation of Lool's parole conditions. Lool, originally from Guatemala and raised in Connecticut, has a criminal conviction from approximately 30 years ago for which he has already served his sentence. He now faces deportation proceedings while his children, employees, and businesses remain in the U.S., with supporters launching a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal expenses.

Minnesota man denaturalized for 2009 al-Shabaab support conviction

May 11, 2026Somalia

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil complaint in federal court seeking to revoke the citizenship of Salah Osman Ahmed, a Minnesota resident who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in August 2007. Ahmed pleaded guilty in 2009 to providing material support to al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization. He admitted to attending meetings in Minneapolis starting in October 2007 before traveling to Somalia in December 2007, where he helped build a training camp and received weapons training. Ahmed also raised money from the Somali-American community and had already served three years in prison, completing his supervised release in March 2022. The denaturalization action was announced in May 2026 as part of a broader immigration crackdown involving 12 individuals facing denaturalization for concealing terrorist support or war crimes.

Cuban detainee transferred across four states after hunger strike, alleges ICE retaliation

May 11, 2026Estancia, NMCuba

Rogelio Bolufé, a 44-year-old Cuban immigrant detained at Torrance County Detention Facility in New Mexico, initiated a 10-day hunger strike to protest poor conditions and alleged confiscation of legal documents by CoreCivic staff. Within 48 hours of being taken to the Albuquerque ICE field office, he was transferred to multiple detention facilities across Texas, Alabama, Arizona, and Washington. Bolufé alleges the transfers constitute retaliation for his advocacy and complaints, and that he was denied medical care during the process, including being forced to sleep on cold floors in overcrowded conditions. He is appealing a deportation order and seeking a Green Card under the Cuban Adjustment Act.

DACA recipient detained at green card interview, describes harsh conditions at Otay Mesa

May 11, 2026San Diego, CA

Milena Araya-Davis, a 27-year-old former DACA recipient and mental health therapist, was arrested by ICE agents waiting outside a USCIS office in San Diego in December 2025 immediately after being told her green card application was approved. She spent a week detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center, where she reported sleeping on floors, receiving inadequate food and medical care, and sharing cells with multiple other women. San Diego County subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security and private prison operator CoreCivic after being denied inspection access to the facility.

Father tasered by deputies after calling 911, detained by ICE despite pending asylum case

May 11, 2026Palm Beach, FL

Axel Sánchez Toledo called 911 in December 2025 requesting a welfare check on his 4-year-old daughter in Palm Beach. When sheriff's deputies arrived, they accused him of being undocumented and detained him for ICE. Body camera footage shows deputies tasering, tackling, and striking Toledo with a baton while he was on the ground, despite his claims of having a pending asylum case and documentation. Toledo spent four months in jail on a resisting arrest charge before prosecutors dropped it in exchange for an apology letter. ICE took him into custody on May 1, 2026, and he now faces deportation proceedings.

Rossville coffee shop owner detained by ICE, family closing business to relocate to Mexico

May 11, 2026Rossville, GAMexico

Buenos Dias Coffee, a Latin-owned coffee shop in Rossville, Georgia, is closing after three years in business following the ICE detention of its owner and operator. The owner was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a traffic stop and is facing deportation. Her family, who co-own the business, announced the closure on Facebook and decided to sell the cafe and relocate to Mexico to reunite with and support the detained mother while she remains in custody.

Guatemalan educator avoids detention after 16 years, community rallies support her

May 11, 2026Burlington, MAGuatemala

Mariola Perez, a Guatemalan genocide survivor and paraprofessional educator in Lynn, Massachusetts, was placed in removal proceedings after a 2013 traffic stop led to ICE involvement. After 16 years in the U.S., she was ordered to report to ICE in Burlington on May 11, 2026, facing possible detention and deportation. Community members, city officials, teachers, and advocates rallied in her support, with over 4,500 people signing a petition. At her scheduled ICE appointment on May 11, Perez was not detained; instead, she was granted a reasonable fear interview and scheduled for another check-in in November. Her case gained attention partly due to concerns about the impact on her 15-year-old U.S. citizen son, who has complex medical needs.

Green card holder detained at LAX after family trip, transferred across three states, disappears from ICE tracking

May 11, 2026Arizona, AZNew Zealand

Everlee Amelia Wihongi, a 36-37-year-old New Zealand citizen and lawful permanent resident who lived legally in the United States for over 25 years, was detained by CBP/ICE officers at Los Angeles International Airport on April 10, 2026, upon returning from a family visit to New Zealand. ICE cited a 2014 marijuana possession felony conviction from Fond du Lac County as grounds for detention, despite Wihongi having made the same trip multiple times previously without incident. During detention, she was transferred between facilities in Adelanto, California; Fort Bliss, Texas; and Eloy, Arizona over a weekend, during which she reported being shackled for extended periods without adequate food, water, or bathing privileges. Approximately one month after initial detention, she disappeared from ICE's online detainee locator system. Her attorney scheduled a court hearing in Wisconsin on May 21 to petition to vacate the underlying conviction.

Dominican Man Detained in Puerto Rico Immigration Enforcement Operation

May 11, 2026San Juan, Puerto RicoDominican Republic

León Isauro Calderón Santana, a Dominican Republic citizen who entered Puerto Rico without inspection in 2004, was detained on April 24, 2026 during a nonviolent enforcement operation on Ave. Américo Miranda while on his way to open his business. He is the sole caregiver for his U.S. citizen wife and daughter and has a pending I-130 petition filed by his daughter. The court granted a temporary restraining order preventing his transfer outside Puerto Rico and ordered that he receive a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge. Marcelo Jerez, a Dominican Republic national who entered Puerto Rico in 2001 without proper admission, was stopped by four ICE vans on May 11, 2026 while en route to work, despite committing no traffic infractions or crimes. Jerez is married to a U.S. citizen and has a one-year-old U.S. citizen child with a serious medical condition. The court denied his emergency motion for temporary restraining order and upheld his mandatory detention under Section 1225 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Indian-American businessman denaturalized for $2.5M fraud concealed from citizenship officials

May 10, 2026India

Debashis Ghosh, a 62-year-old Indian-American businessman, faces denaturalization after the Department of Justice moved to revoke his U.S. citizenship. Ghosh became a U.S. citizen in 2012 but falsely claimed during his naturalization application that he had no criminal history. He was convicted of wire fraud in 2017 involving a $2.5 million investor fraud scheme from 2010-2014, which he concealed during citizenship proceedings. Authorities allege he conspired to defraud investors of funds intended for an aircraft maintenance facility and misrepresented the safekeeping of investor money. Ghosh is among 12 individuals targeted by the Justice Department for denaturalization on various charges including fraud, war crimes, and support for terrorist groups.

Phoenix man faces denaturalization over alleged al-Qaida leadership and Iraqi killings

May 10, 2026Phoenix, AZIraq

The DOJ filed denaturalization actions against Ali Yousif Ahmed Al-Nouri, a Phoenix-area resident, alleging he obtained U.S. citizenship through fraud by claiming al-Qaida attacked him and his family when entering in 2009. Al-Nouri is accused of killing two Iraqi police officers in 2006 while acting as a leader of al-Qaida, and Iraq requested his extradition in 2019. The DOJ determined in 2015 that he had lied during the naturalization process.

Three fruit vendors detained by ICE near elementary school in Los Angeles

May 10, 2026Los Angeles, CA

Three fruit vendors from Puebla, Mexico were detained by federal immigration agents on Monday morning, May 10, 2026, near Verde and Tremont streets in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles. The detention occurred around 8:35 a.m. as the men were preparing to load their produce carts, in close proximity to Santa Teresita School, a Catholic elementary school. Video footage from a home surveillance camera captured the operation involving agents in unmarked vehicles. The three men were taken into custody and are being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. Three people working on a truck in Boyle Heights were detained by apparent federal ICE agents Monday morning near Verde and Tremont streets, steps away from Santa Teresita School, a Catholic elementary school. Video from home surveillance showed agents rushing out of vehicles to detain the men around 8:35 a.m.

Padres prospect self-deports to Mexico after pleading guilty to transporting undocumented immigrants

May 10, 2026Lukeville, AZMexico

Humberto Cruz, a 19-year-old San Diego Padres pitching prospect ranked No. 5 in the organization, pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge of accessory after the fact to improper entry related to a human smuggling operation in Arizona. Cruz was arrested on October 28 near Lukeville while driving a BMW with Mexican license plates and transporting two undocumented Mexican citizens, having been paid $1,000 per person to transport them. After his guilty plea in November, Cruz self-deported to Mexico and was placed on the Padres' restricted list with his salary suspended.

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