HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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3816 incidents with known locations
⚐ Highlighted incident #11115 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

ICE agents break car window to detain two men at Tacoma Home Depot

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Aug 27, 2026Tacoma, WA

Two men were detained by ICE agents in a Home Depot parking lot in Tacoma, Washington, after officers broke the window of their car. A bystander, Lance Braunwart, told N+ Univision that when he tried to record the license plates of the agents' vehicles, one agent appeared to try to hit him with the car even though there was enough room to leave. Braunwart said he and another couple stayed at the scene, located the wife of one of the detained men, and helped bring the men's truck and construction materials to her home. According to Braunwart, the two men had only gone to the Home Depot to pick up the last materials for a job they were completing.

Salvadoran asylum seeker beaten in solitary confinement, deported after seven-day lockdown

May 18, 2026Everglades, FLEl Salvador

Angel Lemus-Linares, a 32-year-old from El Salvador seeking political asylum, was placed in solitary confinement at T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Texas for seven consecutive days after being beaten by ICE officers following an altercation with another detainee. He reported being locked in isolation without adequate medical care or bathroom access, and experienced multiple additional solitary confinement placements and prolonged lockdowns during his 28+ months in ICE custody. After an immigration judge denied his asylum claim in December 2025, Lemus-Linares was deported to Mexico and is now applying for refugee status.

Woman deported to Mexico after serving 20+ years in California prison

May 18, 2026California, CAMexico

Ursula Gomez completed over two decades in California state prison and participated in rehabilitation programs and college coursework. Upon her release in July 2024, the California Department of Corrections transferred her to ICE custody rather than releasing her. After 11 months in multiple ICE detention centers, facing threats of deportation to countries she had no ties to, Gomez agreed to voluntary removal to Mexico, the country she left at age 5. She was deported later in 2024.

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.

Albanian barber arrested by ICE after 20 years in America, separated from citizen wife and young daughter

May 17, 2026Elmwood Park, ILAlbania

Besnik "Nik" Shembitrasi, a 49-year-old barber from Albania who immigrated to the U.S. in 2006, was arrested by ICE on May 17, 2026, outside his home in Elmwood Park as he was leaving for work. Shembitrasi has built a life in Illinois over two decades, working as a barber at Frank's Barber Shop in Oak Park, married to a U.S. citizen, and father to an 8-year-old daughter born in the U.S. His uncle and employer Frank Shemitraku described him as hardworking, respectful, and dedicated to supporting his family, noting that Shembitrasi had recently purchased a home in Elmwood Park and works two jobs. At the time of reporting, Shembitrasi was being held by ICE in Brazil, Indiana, and his family expressed concern about his separation and uncertain immigration status.

Cuban national detained after domestic violence arrest in Florida

May 17, 2026FloridaCuba

A Cuban national who entered the United States on July 14, 2024, was arrested on May 17, 2026, by local law enforcement in Florida for Battery (Domestic Violence) under F.S. 784.03.1a1. He was subsequently transferred to ICE custody and detained at Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. The court granted his habeas corpus petition, finding his re-detention without a pre-deprivation hearing violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, and ordered respondents to provide an individualized bond hearing within 14 days or immediately release him.

Mother arrested and held in ICE custody, family seeks legal support

May 17, 2026Atlanta, GA

Sara Yazmin Garcia was arrested on May 15, 2026, and taken into ICE custody on May 17, 2026, due to her immigration status. She is being held in Atlanta, Georgia, over seven hours from her family. She has no criminal record and has lived in the United States for over 20 years, leaving behind her husband of 10 years, her 15-year-old son, and extended family who depend on her emotionally and financially.

Protester arrested blocking ICE surveillance facility in Vermont

May 17, 2026Williston, VT

Peter Booth was arrested on charges of unlawful trespass and resisting arrest during a protest at an ICE digital surveillance center on May 14, 2026. Booth was carried out of the building by Vermont State Police officers. He had previously been cited for criminal trespass at a similar protest in February 2026.

Father deported to Vietnam after ICE breaks promise of release hearing

May 17, 2026Adelanto, CAVietnam

Vivian Do's father was detained by ICE on March 5 at a GEO processing facility in Adelanto, California. Despite legal assurances and ICE's own notification that he would not be moved until June 5, he was transferred without notice on May 14, flown from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and deported to Vietnam the same day. The family had spent over $50,000 in legal fees seeking his release.

Father detained by ICE en route to work, family struggles without breadwinner

May 17, 2026Washington, DC

Ernesto, a construction worker, was detained by ICE on December 10 while traveling to his job in Washington, DC. He was transferred to a detention center in Texas, leaving his wife Ana and their three children (ages 3, 7, and 8) without their primary source of income. Ana now works nights as a university cleaner and relies on a moped for transportation while struggling to afford rent, groceries, medical bills, and legal fees.

Tacoma father released after judge vacates 1999 drug conviction, restores residency

May 17, 2026Encinitas, CA

A man detained by ICE in March after 30 years in the U.S. was released this month after an immigration judge vacated a decades-old drug conviction from 1999 and restored his lawful permanent resident status. The judge found he had not been informed of immigration consequences when he entered the plea. His case is among roughly 19 Laotian cases handled by the Seattle Clemency Project this year, part of a broader enforcement sweep affecting longtime residents in the region.

Uncle and aunt detained at ICE check-in despite decades of compliance, held four months

May 17, 2026Florence, AZ

An uncle and aunt who had attended yearly ICE check-ins since the early 1990s were suddenly detained during a routine check-in and held for over four months. During detention, they were denied access to medications for serious health conditions, and the aunt was transferred to Florence, Arizona without family or attorney notification. Both are stateless individuals from the former USSR facing potential deportation to an unknown country. They were released on January 16, 2026, and are now pursuing a legal appeal.

Husband detained by ICE without due process, separated from wife during green card interview

May 17, 2026East Coast

Obi, who arrived legally on a visa and was in the process of obtaining a green card, was detained by ICE on October 20th without due process. He was held in a detention facility for ten days after a judge ordered his release and bond was posted. His wife, who relies on him as her caregiver due to chronic illnesses, was forced to attend their green card interview alone while he remained detained. He was released with conditions including GPS monitoring and travel restrictions.

Court blocks key provisions of Texas S.B. 4 anti-immigration law

May 17, 2026

The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas granted provisional class certification and a preliminary injunction blocking four key provisions of Texas Senate Bill 4, a 2023 law the court found could allow states to pass their own immigration laws and undermine federal uniformity. The blocked provisions include a reentry crime applicable to anyone reentering Texas even with federal permission, magistrate power to issue deportation orders, criminalization of failing to comply with removal orders, and requirements that magistrates continue prosecutions despite pending federal immigration cases. The class-action lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Texas and Texas Civil Rights Project on May 4, represents thousands of people across the state, including a lawful permanent resident and a person provisionally approved for a U Visa after assisting law enforcement.

Army veteran's wife detained at green card interview, deported to Lithuania after 66 days

May 16, 2026Chicago, ILLithuania

Airida Gould, a Lithuanian national and licensed massage therapist who has lived in the United States for 26 years, was detained by ICE on May 16, 2026, during a green card interview at which USCIS had just approved her marriage petition. Gould is married to U.S. Army veteran Mark Gould and has three U.S.-born adult children. ICE officers handcuffed and detained her based on a 2009 removal order issued after she missed a court hearing due to road construction. During her 66 days in ICE custody, Gould was held at multiple facilities including Broadview, Illinois, Brazil, Indiana, and Kentucky. She described conditions at the Brazil facility as extremely poor. Her legal team, led by former immigration court Judge Carla Espinoza Grcic, filed an Emergency Motion to Reopen with the Board of Immigration Appeals. According to her husband's social media posts, Gould was deported on July 21, 2026.

Oklahoma man charged with smuggling 42 undocumented immigrants in sealed trailer

May 16, 2026Sarita, TX

Juan Nasario-Reyes, 43, from Beaver, Oklahoma, was arrested at a Border Patrol checkpoint in Sarita after authorities discovered 42 undocumented immigrants in his tractor-trailer, which was sealed shut with no means of escape and an internal temperature of 92.5 degrees. He also faces charges for possessing approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. If convicted on smuggling charges, Nasario-Reyes could face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine; drug charges carry a maximum sentence of 40 years.

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

May 16, 2026Bay Minette, AL

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.

Army sergeant's wife detained at USCIS appointment despite legal protections, released after senator's intervention

May 16, 2026El Paso, TXEl Salvador

Deisy Fidelina Rivera Ortega, wife of active-duty U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Jose Serrano stationed at Fort Bliss, was detained by ICE agents on April 14, 2026, while attending a USCIS appointment in El Paso, Texas to apply for Parole in Place. A native of El Salvador who had lived in the U.S. for approximately a decade, Rivera Ortega held valid work authorization and a 2019 court order granting her withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture. Despite these legal protections, ICE arrested her based on a December 2019 removal order for illegal entry and indicated plans to deport her to Mexico under third-country removal procedures. After approximately one month in custody at the El Paso Service Processing Center, Rivera Ortega was released on May 15, 2026, following media reporting and personal intervention by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat and combat veteran who contacted the Department of Homeland Security on her behalf. She remains subject to GPS monitoring, mandatory ICE check-ins, home visits, and travel restrictions while facing potential deportation.

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.

Mexican national detained after traffic stop challenges unlawful immigration detention

May 15, 2026UtahMexico

A Mexican citizen who entered the United States via Arizona in 1998 without inspection and has lived in the U.S. for 28 years. On May 15, 2026, while in Utah, he was stopped by local law enforcement during a traffic stop for a broken taillight and was subsequently placed in immigration detention at Mesa Verde Detention Center. ICE argued he could be detained under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2), but the court rejected this argument, finding it inconsistent with prior precedent establishing that individuals who entered without inspection and were not apprehended upon arrival are not subject to mandatory detention. The court granted his petition for writ of habeas corpus on June 29, 2026, finding that his detention violated his procedural due process rights. The court ordered his immediate release and enjoined respondents from re-detaining him without providing notice and a pre-detention hearing before an immigration judge.

Honduran national detained after ICE parole revocation, wins habeas corpus petition

May 15, 2026Oklahoma City, OKHonduras

A Honduran citizen who entered the United States in August 2023 was paroled on September 21, 2023 with reporting requirements. On May 15, 2026, he appeared at his scheduled ICE check-in appointment in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where he was taken into immigration custody. The court found that respondents failed to provide written notice of the reason for parole revocation and that the mandatory detention statute did not apply to paroled individuals. The court ordered his immediate release on his prior parole conditions and enjoined respondents from re-detaining him without notice and a pre-detention hearing before an immigration judge.

Mexican national detained by ICE after 29 years in US challenges mandatory detention

May 15, 2026Newark, NJMexico

A Mexican national who has resided in the United States since approximately 1997 was arrested by ICE agents on May 15, 2026, while entering his residence after walking his dogs. He is the father of one U.S. citizen son, age 20, who is autistic and currently resides in Mexico, and has U.S. citizen nephews and nieces in the United States. He is a skilled electrician with no criminal convictions and no history of violence or criminal conduct during his nearly three decades of U.S. residence. He was seized without a warrant, without notice, and without an opportunity to contact counsel, and transferred directly to ICE custody at Delaney Hall Detention Facility in New Jersey, where he has been held since May 15, 2026. A Notice to Appear was issued on or about May 20, 2026, initiating removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review. He filed a habeas corpus petition seeking immediate release from custody or an individualized bond hearing, arguing his detention violates his Fifth Amendment due process rights and is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Cuban immigrant detained seven months, suffered stroke in ICE custody, released after judge's order

May 15, 2026Miami, FLCuba

Justo Betancourt, a 54-year-old Cuban national who entered the U.S. in 1990 and held lawful status, was detained by ICE on October 29, 2025, during a routine annual immigration check-in. He was held for approximately seven months at the South Florida Detention Facility (Alligator Alcatraz) in the Florida Everglades, despite being unable to be readily deported to Cuba. During detention, he was shackled up to 23 hours daily and denied proper medical care despite having diabetes, neuropathy, heart and blood pressure issues, suffering strokes, cardiac arrest, and significant health deterioration. His daughter Arianne organized weekly vigils outside the facility for 44 weeks to advocate for his release. On May 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek granted his habeas corpus petition, finding his detention was erroneous and unlawful, and ordered his release within 48 hours. Betancourt was released on May 14-15, 2026.

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.

Transgender woman harassed in male dorms, self-deports to El Salvador

May 15, 2026California City, CAEl Salvador

Loba, a transgender woman from El Salvador, was detained at California City ICE detention center for six months in 2025. She experienced sexual harassment and intimidation from guards while housed in male dormitories. Due to the traumatic conditions and lack of support for LGBTQ+ detainees, she signed voluntary departure paperwork and self-deported to El Salvador.

Man detained by ICE after Brookline Police arrest, became disruptive during transport

May 15, 2026Chestnut Hill, MADominican Republic

Edual Rafael Ulloa, 25, of Framingham was arrested by Brookline Police on Thursday on assault and battery, failure to stop for police, and possession of a forged license plate charges. After being released on bail that evening, ICE agents detained him 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 later reported that Ulloa became disruptive and caused a public safety issue while being transported, though Brookline Police did not directly assist in the detention per department policy.

Ecuadorian man detained without hearing granted bond hearing by judge.

May 15, 2026NYEcuador

William Fabian Peralta-Malla, an Ecuadorian, was detained by ICE after being charged, but not convicted, in a vehicular manslaughter case. The government invoked the Laken Riley Act to justify mandatory detention based on the unproven charge alone. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres ruled that detention without an individualized bond hearing violated due process, ordering a bond hearing within seven days and requiring the government to demonstrate clear and convincing evidence to justify continued detention.

Six defendants indicted for re-entry after deportation in South Georgia

May 15, 2026Savannah, GAMexico

Six people have been federally indicted in the Southern District of Georgia on charges of re-entering the United States after prior deportations. The defendants — Alejandro Mendoza-Hernandez, Didier Mora-Tino, Marcos Saraya-Canales, Porfirio Suarez-Olan, Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, and Kenny Omar Diaz-Diaz — were arrested across multiple South Georgia counties including Long, Ware, Evans, Atkinson, and Chatham counties. According to prosecutors, all are citizens of Mexico or Honduras and were allegedly in the United States illegally after prior removals. The charge carries a maximum penalty of up to two years in federal prison, followed by deportation proceedings.

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.

Haitian woman fleeing violence and kidnapping denied U.S. asylum

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May 15, 2026Haiti

LT, a 30-year-old from Haiti, fled after experiencing kidnapping, rape, and violence, and after her sister was murdered. She sought U.S. asylum and gave birth to a daughter, but her asylum case was denied.

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.

Gay asylum seeker detained at green card interview, held for months despite judge's bond order

May 15, 2026New York, NY

Allan Dabrio Marrero, a gay asylum seeker from the Cayman Islands, was detained by ICE on November 24, 2024, immediately after attending a marriage-based green card interview at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City with his U.S. citizen husband Matthew. Although USCIS approved his marriage petition, ICE agents arrested him outside the building after discovering a 2022 removal order that Marrero claims he never received—he states he was in a rehabilitation center when the hearing occurred. Advocates and faith leaders, including Make the Road New York and Middle Collegiate Church, called for his release, citing ICE's failure to provide prescribed medication for anxiety and depression and the lack of notice regarding the original hearing. A motion to reopen his deportation case paused removal proceedings but did not secure immediate release. A judge granted Marrero release on $6,000 bond on January 27, 2026, finding no flight risk given his clean record and marriage to a U.S. citizen. However, ICE refused to accept the bond payment and continued his detention across five facilities. Marrero was finally released on May 15, 2026, reuniting with his husband at Middle Collegiate Church after nearly five months in custody.

Diesel mechanic detained 109 days, judge orders release after rejecting Trump detention policy

May 14, 2026Great Falls, MTMexico

Roberto Orozco-Ramirez, an undocumented Mexican immigrant and longtime Froid, Montana resident, turned himself in to Border Patrol on January 25, 2026, after agents staked out his home. He was charged with illegal reentry and held in detention. After the government dropped the illegal re-entry charge in April, he remained in custody under the Trump administration's expanded mandatory detention policy. On May 14, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Brian Morris ruled his continued detention unlawful, finding the administration's interpretation of immigration law erroneous and violating due process rights, and ordered his release within 24 hours. The small, conservative town of Froid organized community fundraisers to support his family throughout the ordeal.

Three protesters arrested at ICE facility blockade in Vermont

May 14, 2026Williston, VT

Three additional protesters, ranging in age from early twenties to late seventies, were arrested on charges of unlawful trespass and resisting arrest during a protest at an ICE digital surveillance center. The protesters blocked entrances to the facility to impede ICE operations. All four arrestees are scheduled to appear in court on June 30, 2026.

ICE Revokes Supervision Order Without Proper Notice, Court Orders Release

May 14, 2026Los Angeles, CAEl Salvador

A Salvadoran woman who was previously under an order of supervision and had been granted withholding of removal to El Salvador was re-detained by ICE on May 14, 2026 after her supervised release was revoked. The court found that ICE violated federal regulations by failing to provide adequate notice of revocation reasons and conducting the required informal interview on the same day as detention. The court ordered her immediate release, finding the revocation procedures unlawful.

Victor Manuel Rocha denaturalized for alleged fraud in naturalization process

May 14, 2026Colombia

Victor Manuel Rocha, a Colombian national, was targeted for denaturalization after being convicted of serving as an unregistered agent for Cuba. He admitted to beginning espionage for Cuba in 1973, before naturalizing in 1978, and falsely represented under oath that he was not affiliated with the Communist Party and had not committed unreported crimes.

Nigerian man denaturalized for alleged fraud in naturalization process

May 14, 2026Nigeria

George Ofuan Oyakhire, a Nigerian national, was targeted for denaturalization after obtaining citizenship on March 22, 1996, under the false name Oliver Bennett Oyakhire. He first entered the U.S. in 1986 under his true name but obtained temporary resident status in 1988 and permanent residence in 1990 using the false identity.

Indian man denaturalized for alleged fraud in naturalization process

May 14, 2026India

Debashis Ghosh, an Indian national, was targeted for denaturalization after conspiring to defraud investors of $2.5 million intended for aircraft maintenance facility construction before and after naturalizing in 2012. Ghosh falsely testified that he had never committed crimes on his naturalization application.

Abduvosit Razikov denaturalized for alleged fraud in naturalization process

May 14, 2026Uzbekistan

Abduvosit Razikov, an Uzbekistani national, was denaturalized after engaging in multiple sham marriages to obtain immigration benefits. Between 2005 and 2012, Razikov paid a U.S. citizen approximately $5,000 for a sham marriage, arranged another for his partner in 2007, and orchestrated a third marriage after obtaining naturalization. USCIS and the Department of Justice filed the denaturalization lawsuit as part of a broader action against 12 individuals accused of serious offenses.

Oscar Alberto Pelaez faces denaturalization for allegedly concealing criminal history during naturalization

May 14, 2026Colombia

Oscar Alberto Pelaez, a former Colombian priest, is facing revocation of his U.S. citizenship after the Department of Justice filed a civil lawsuit alleging he deliberately concealed his crimes during naturalization. Pelaez was granted citizenship in 2001, but pleaded guilty in 2002 to 13 felonies for sexually abusing a 14-year-old parishioner between 1998 and 2000. He had falsely attested on his citizenship application that he had no criminal record. The case was revived following a recent investigation as part of a broader effort to identify cases where immigration benefits were obtained through false information.

U.S. citizen and four others arrested by ICE in Geneva; community protests continue

May 14, 2026Geneva, NY

On May 14, 2026, ICE allegedly arrested at least five people in Geneva, New York, including a U.S. citizen at a Byrne Dairy gas station and four men stopped while driving to work. One person was later released after providing proof of citizenship. Community protests and rallies organized by local advocacy groups, including the Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network and Geneva Women's Assembly, continued into late May with marches to the arrest locations.

Ecuadorian Man Detained by ICE Without Bond Hearing at Otay Mesa

May 14, 2026San Diego, CAEcuador

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.

Middle Eastern man self-deports after ICE solitary confinement triggers panic attacks

May 14, 2026

A 33-year-old man from the Middle East was detained by ICE in December 2024 after a scheduled check-in with immigration officials. While held in solitary confinement, he experienced panic attacks and chest pains, and repeatedly struck his head against a door. According to his brother, he is a Christian who fled religious persecution in his home country and has no criminal record. An ICE officer informed him he could be deported to Uganda. Facing indefinite detention, he chose to voluntarily depart the United States rather than continue in custody.

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

May 14, 2026Laredo, TX

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.

Man detained by ICE while traveling to work in North Carolina

May 13North Carolina

Julio was detained by ICE while traveling to work. He has no criminal history and was actively pursuing naturalization. His detention has left his wife Maria managing household expenses and bills on a single income while facing legal fees and bond expenses.

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