HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

We collect individual stories of people impacted by U.S. immigration enforcement from news reporting, court records, and community accounts into one searchable public database, updated daily and reviewed by our team. The Human Impact Project is run by the Human Security Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

IncidentsPolicy & Analysis
Show map
4281 incidents with known locations
⚐ Highlighted incident #12292 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

Indian asylum seeker detained after ATD violations wins court-ordered bond hearing

Aug 5, 2026McFarland, CAIndia

A citizen of India entered the United States without inspection near Yuma, Arizona in December 2022 and was briefly detained before being released on parole and enrolled in an Alternatives to Detention program. He was issued a Notice to Appear in February 2023 charging him as removable, and he timely filed an asylum application while obtaining employment, developing community ties, and maintaining a clean criminal record. On August 5, 2026, he was taken into ICE custody after reporting to ICE offices, following multiple alleged violations of his Alternatives to Detention conditions dating back to 2023. He is currently detained at the Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. He filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and a motion for a temporary restraining order, arguing his detention without a prior hearing violated his due process rights and seeking immediate release or a bond hearing. The government argued he was subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). The court found that § 1226(a) governs his detention instead, granted the habeas petition in part, denied the TRO as moot, and ordered an individualized bond hearing within 14 days where the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that he is a flight risk or danger to the community.

Noem attends ICE raid on pregnant California mother's home

Jun 12, 2025Huntington Park, CaliforniaMexico

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attended an ICE raid at a Huntington Park home targeting a man with a criminal history. The raid occurred at the residence of Sabrina Medina, a 28-year-old pregnant U.S. citizen mother of four, though the intended target was her husband. Agents conducted a room-by-room search while Medina and her children were removed from the home, though agents left empty-handed.

US citizen detained by border patrol agents, questioned about birthplace

Jun 12, 2025Montebello, CA

Jason Brian Gavidia, a 29-year-old US citizen born in Montebello, was detained by armed border patrol agents in an unmarked car near his auto body shop. Video footage shows agents pressing him against a fence, twisting his arm, and interrogating him about his birthplace despite his repeated statements that he was born in the United States and offered to show his ID. Witnesses described the encounter as racial profiling based on appearance. Gavidia was eventually released, but the incident occurred amid a series of ICE raids across southern California targeting people based on their appearance.

Democratic US Senator Padilla forced to ground, handcuffed by federal agents

Jun 12, 2025

Democratic US Senator Padilla was forced to the ground and handcuffed by federal agents. He was released shortly after the incident. The FBI defended the agents' actions in response to questions about the Department of Homeland Security's response.

U.S. citizen detained by Border Patrol agents, alleges racial profiling during enforcement operation

Jun 12, 2025Montebello, CA

Brian Gavidia, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen born and raised in East Los Angeles, was detained by Border Patrol agents on June 12 at his workplace on West Olympic Boulevard in Montebello during an immigration enforcement operation in the San Gabriel Valley. An agent pushed Gavidia against a metal fence and demanded proof of citizenship, asking repeatedly where he was born despite his repeated statements that he was American. Video footage shows two agents holding Gavidia against the fence while he stated "I'm American, bro!" Agents confiscated his Real ID and did not return it; they also took his phone for approximately 20 minutes before returning it. Gavidia, whose mother is Colombian and his father is Salvadoran, believes he was targeted because of his Latino heritage and appearance. He described the encounter as traumatic, saying he feared for his life when an agent racked a chamber in an AR-15. A friend who was filming the encounter was injured and bleeding from the forehead after being pushed by another agent. Gavidia has since joined an ACLU lawsuit with other plaintiffs challenging immigration enforcement tactics and racial profiling, and has renounced his earlier support for President Trump, stating he was "manipulated" and "brainwashed." He now carries a copy of the U.S. Constitution and helps with know-your-rights workshops.

Afghan military translator detained at immigration hearing in San Diego

Jun 12, 2025San Diego, CAAfghanistan

Sayed Naser, an Afghan national who worked as a translator and logistics contractor for U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, was detained by ICE agents during a routine immigration hearing at a San Diego courthouse on June 12, 2025. Naser entered the U.S. legally in July 2024 through humanitarian visa to Brazil and Mexico, and had been granted humanitarian parole while applying for a Special Immigrant Visa and asylum. His brother was killed by the Taliban in September 2023, forcing Naser and his family into hiding in Iran. According to his attorney Brian McGoldrick, Naser has no criminal record, an active asylum case, and his brother was granted asylum weeks before his detention. During the hearing, the government attempted to dismiss his asylum case without explanation, but the judge declined and gave Naser time to respond. Naser is being held at Otay Mesa Detention Center and is unable to contact his family, who remain in hiding in Iran during an internet blackout.

U.S. citizen Brian Gavidia pinned by ICE agents at his East LA car lot, forced to close business

Jun 12, 2025Los Angeles, CAMexico

Brian Gavidia, a U.S. citizen born and raised in East Los Angeles, was pinned against a gate at his car lot by armed federal agents who refused to accept that he was a citizen. He was forced to close his used-car business after agents kept returning to the neighborhood. He joined an ACLU class-action lawsuit challenging ICE's racial profiling. He also had to tell his nine-year-old daughter she couldn't visit from Portland because it wasn't safe.

Five people detained in Phoenixville ICE operation Thursday morning

Jun 12, 2026Phoenixville, PA

At least five undocumented immigrants were detained by ICE agents in Phoenixville on Thursday morning across multiple locations including an Acme supermarket and Wawa convenience store, according to immigrant advocacy group Project Libertad. Plainclothes officers were observed at the intersection of Starr and Washington streets as early as 7 a.m., with additional activity reported around 8 a.m. The operation occurred two days after the borough council passed an ordinance limiting immigration enforcement on municipal property. Authorities have not formally announced the arrests or identified the detained individuals.

ICE detains U.S. citizen in New York without reasonable suspicion

Jun 12, 2025Brentwood, NY

Elzon Lemus, a 23-year-old Hispanic U.S. citizen from Brentwood, Long Island, was stopped and detained by ICE agents without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. Agents stopped the vehicle he was a passenger in, claiming he "looks like somebody we are looking for." When Lemus refused to provide identification without explanation, an agent forcibly opened the car door, handcuffed him, and confiscated his phone. His attorneys argue the incident violated his civil rights and constitutes racial profiling, calling for a federal investigation.

Long Island man handcuffed by ICE despite being U.S. citizen

Jun 12, 2025Westbury, NY

A 23-year-old electrician from Brentwood was pulled over by ICE agents while driving a work van in Westbury and was handcuffed and detained for approximately 25 minutes. The agents claimed he looked like someone they were searching for but provided no specific basis for the stop. After finding his ID confirming his U.S. citizenship, the agents released him without explanation or apology.

Man deported to Mexico during LA raids, now calls family from across the border

Jun 12, 2025Los Angeles, CAMexico

Noemi's husband was deported to Mexico during the June 2025 ICE raids in Los Angeles. They used to get ready together before she headed to work at LA international airport. Now he calls her each morning at 8am from Mexico.

Father chained at waist and ankles, taken by ICE outside LA workplace

Jun 12, 2025Los Angeles, CA

Yurien saw her father handcuffed, chained from the waist and ankles, and whisked away by ICE agents outside his workplace in LA's fashion district during the June 2025 raids. She remains haunted by the image a year later.

Nearly 100 protesters arrested at anti-ICE demonstration have cases resubmitted for review

Jun 11, 2025Las Vegas, NV

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police announced in October that they are resubmitting cases for review related to nearly 100 arrests made during a June 11 anti-ICE protest in downtown Las Vegas. Most charges had been dropped by the City Attorney's Office in September, but police are now resubmitting cases amid questions about whether dispersal orders were properly communicated to demonstrators. Attorneys representing arrested protesters argue many did not receive adequate notice to disperse and are calling for investigation into police conduct during the event.

ICE agents ram car during arrest in Boyle Heights

Jun 11, 2025Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California

ICE agents rammed a white sedan with two unmarked vehicles in Boyle Heights, pinning it between them during an arrest operation. The vehicle contained a male driver, female passenger, toddler, and baby. Federal agents drew weapons and deployed tear gas before dragging the male driver from the car. The arrested man was identified as Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho, though family members claimed he is a U.S. citizen.

Driver arrested after federal agents ram vehicle in Boyle Heights, child left behind

Jun 11, 2025Boyle Heights, CA

Christian Damian Cerno-Camacho, a 27-year-old, was arrested by federal agents in Boyle Heights after they rammed his white Mercedes sedan with multiple vehicles on Whittier Boulevard, trapping him at the intersection with Calzona Street. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents were conducting a targeted arrest operation, stating that Cerno-Camacho was wanted in connection with an alleged assault against a CBP officer and that he attempted to flee when they tried to arrest him. A woman and two children, including an infant, were passengers in the vehicle at the time. Video footage showed armed federal agents firing chemical rounds at the vehicle before extracting Cerno-Camacho and leaving the woman and children inside. The woman and children later fled to a nearby grocery store and were reunited with family approximately three hours later. The incident occurred near a school in the neighborhood.

Protesters clash with ICE agents at Spokane facility; trial examines law enforcement tactics

Jun 11, 2025Spokane, WA

A mass protest occurred at Spokane's ICE facility after former City Council President Ben Stuckart called for people to prevent two asylum-seeking immigrants from being transported to a Tacoma detention center. Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents used physical force against protesters, while Spokane police later arrived and employed dialogue-based tactics. Three protesters—Bajun Mavalwalla II, Justice Forral, and Jac Archer—were charged with conspiring against ICE agents, and their trial examined the differing enforcement approaches.

US citizen carpenter arrested by ICE during protest receives judicial criticism

Jun 11, 2025Los Angeles, CA

Christian Cerna, a 28-year-old US citizen and carpenter, was arrested by ICE on June 11, 2025, after participating in an anti-ICE protest days earlier. Officers used aggressive tactics including ramming his vehicle, detonating flash-bang grenades, and pointing assault rifles at his car while his two young children were inside. Cerna was charged with felony assault for an alleged altercation with a border patrol agent, though he and his lawyers contested the circumstances. In December 2025, he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor simple assault and was sentenced in March 2026; a federal judge later criticized the case as a "vindictive effort" to impose extrajudicial punishment, and the ICE filming and social media posting of arrest footage became a subject of controversy.

Eight immigrant workers arrested in coordinated ICE and local police operation in Savannah

Jun 11, 2025Savannah, GAMexico

On June 11, 2025, ICE agents coordinated with Chatham County police to conduct traffic stops targeting immigrant workers near a mobile home park outside Savannah. Eight immigrant laborers were apprehended during two traffic stops. Body camera footage reveals ICE agents proposing ongoing collaboration with local police, with one agent offering to respond to future stops.

Man detained by masked ICE officers in church parking lot without identification

Jun 11, 2025Downey, CA

On June 11, 2025, masked ICE officials detained a man in the parking lot of Downey Memorial Christian Church. Reverend Tanya Lopez witnessed the man on the ground surrounded by three armed, masked officers who refused to identify themselves or produce a warrant. The officers identified themselves only as police and prevented Lopez from questioning them or assisting the man. The church subsequently offered multiple worship options including in-person, Facebook Live, and Zoom services for concerned parishioners.

ICE agents detain 10 men outside Virginia immigration court, strong-arm activists

Jun 11, 2025Sterling, VA

ICE agents detained approximately 10 men outside an immigration court in Sterling, Virginia. Video recorded by activists shows an ICE agent grabbing one activist and knocking a phone out of another's hand while they were filming the detention operation.

Five Spokane protesters plead guilty to federal conspiracy charge.

Jun 11, 2025Spokane, WA

Five of nine protesters who participated in a June 11 demonstration at a Spokane ICE office pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for attempting to prevent the transportation of two legal immigrants to a detention center. The protesters blocked the facility's driveway and transport bus to stop the deportation of two young men who had entered the U.S. through a humanitarian program. Four other defendants are scheduled for trial in May, and under a plea agreement, the guilty defendants can withdraw their felony pleas for misdemeanor charges if they abide by release conditions for 18 months.