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.

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4280 incidents with known locations

Man detained by ICE wins federal court order for release after immigration court denied bond

Feb 4, 2026

A man was taken into custody by ICE on February 4, 2026, after being referred by the Stanislaus County Probation Department. He had previously turned himself in to ICE in June 2015 and was released on an order of recognizance with the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program. He was convicted of a crime in 2022 and violated the terms of his supervision, leading to his re-detention. On March 24, 2026, an immigration court denied bond, stating it lacked jurisdiction. He filed a federal habeas corpus petition challenging his detention and seeking immediate release. On April 24, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted his petition, ordering his immediate release on the same conditions he was subject to before his February 4, 2026 re-detention, and enjoining ICE from re-detaining him without notice and a pre-detention hearing before an immigration judge.

Twin Cities resident says she is being targeted for documenting ICE agents

Feb 4, 2026Minneapolis, MN

Beth Jackson, a Twin Cities resident, was detained by federal officers and faced subsequent action after documenting ICE agents. The detention occurred while she was recording immigration enforcement activities.

ICE detains Afghan brothers during routine asylum check-in

Feb 4, 2026Salt Lake City, UTAfghanistan

Two Afghan brothers with pending asylum claims were detained by ICE during a routine check-in with the Alternatives to Detention unit on Tuesday morning. Mohammad Emran Kohistani and Mohammad Sajad Kohistani, who presented themselves at the U.S. border in 2023 and were released on their own recognizance, were told they were not "appropriately vetted" at the border. Their attorney filed an emergency habeas petition and temporary restraining order, with a federal court hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Witnesses describe violent arrests by federal agents in Phoenixville, Pa.

Feb 4, 2026Phoenixville, PA

Federal ICE agents conducted arrests in downtown Phoenixville, Pennsylvania on February 4, 2026, targeting individuals in vehicles. Witnesses reported the arrests involved agents smashing windows and forcibly removing people from cars.

Detained woman with growing abdominal mass denied urgent ultrasound in Oklahoma

Feb 4, 2026Watonga, OKColombia

Valentina Timaran Restrepo was taken into ICE custody while attending a regularly scheduled check-in appointment on February 4, 2026, and has since been held at the Diamondback Correctional Facility in Watonga, Oklahoma. Weeks earlier she had undergone multiple invasive surgical procedures requiring continuous post-operative monitoring, and she later developed a painful, visibly growing mass at the site of her surgeries, rating her pain 8 out of 10. Although facility medical staff ordered an "urgent" ultrasound on March 27, 2026, she was told it could take up to a month to receive treatment because the procedure required external approval, prompting her to file an emergency petition for a temporary restraining order seeking immediate medical care.

Vineyard worker detained by ICE after 23 years; family loses breadwinner

Feb 4, 2026Greenport, NYEl Salvador

Martir Zambrano Diaz, a 50-year-old native of El Salvador, was detained by ICE agents on February 4, 2026 during an enforcement sweep in Greenport. According to a federal habeas corpus petition filed on his behalf, he arrived in the United States in 2001 and has never been arrested or convicted of any crime, directly contradicting ICE's claims that he was previously removed in 1998 and reentered illegally. He had worked at Pindar Vineyards for 23 years, where he was known for his strong work ethic, kindness, and positive attitude. His detention left his family without their primary breadwinner. Community members and advocacy groups, including OLA of Eastern Long Island, launched fundraising campaigns and legal support efforts to assist his family.

Vineyard foreman detained by ICE; family with disabled son loses breadwinner

Feb 4, 2026Greenport, NYEl Salvador

Alexandro Rivera Magaña, a longtime Greenport resident and El Salvadoran national, was detained by ICE agents on February 4, 2026 during an enforcement sweep in the area. He had worked at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic as a foreman since 2023 and was known for his leadership and work ethic. He is the primary breadwinner for his family, which includes a son with severe autism and a 5-year-old child. His detention left his wife and children facing immediate financial hardship, unable to pay for food and rent. The community organized fundraising campaigns to support his family while legal advocates began assessing his case.

Man Detained After Immigration Parole Expiration Following 2022 Border Release

Feb 4, 2026

Francisco Benjamin Sanchez Obregon was initially apprehended at the border on September 22, 2022, then paroled the next day until November 2022. Over three years later, he was arrested on February 4, 2026, and detained pending removal proceedings. The court found he had a protected liberty interest from his initial parole and ordered his immediate release due to lack of due process.

Maryland mother shackled for 80+ hours on ICE deportation flight to Vietnam

Feb 4, 2026Louisiana, LAVietnam

Melissa Tran, a Maryland mother of four and former health care worker, was shackled at her wrists, waist, and ankles without food or water for over 10 hours before takeoff on an ICE deportation flight operated by Omni Air International. She remained shackled for approximately 80 hours total across a multi-day journey to Hanoi, Vietnam. Her wrists became dented and red from the restraints. She reported soiling herself during the flight and described feeling like she was less than an animal.

Colombian asylum seeker detained by ICE, then self-deported; family left struggling in Minnesota

Feb 4, 2026St. Paul, MNColombia

Cristian, a Colombian immigrant with an asylum claim, was detained by ICE agents on February 4 while heading to a new job in St. Paul. He was transferred to detention centers in Texas and Louisiana before self-deporting to Colombia. His wife Alejandra was left as the sole provider for their two young sons and is now trying to save money for plane tickets to return to Colombia, saying their experience made clear they are not welcomed in the United States.

ICE statement issued after Houston high school rally for detained student

Feb 4, 2026New York, NYPalestine

Dylan, a 20-year-old Venezuelan student at Ellis Prep High School in the Bronx, was detained by ICE on May 21, 2025, immediately after appearing at federal immigration court in Lower Manhattan for an asylum hearing. He entered the United States legally under Biden-era policies and has no criminal record. His attorney stated he was entitled to full legal protections to pursue asylum relief. Dylan's mother reported he has been suffering from untreated stomach problems and has been moved to at least four different detention centers within five to six days. The Department of Homeland Security placed him under expedited removal proceedings.

French tennis coach detained and expelled under Trump border crackdown

Feb 4, 2026Batavia, NYFrance

Julien Pereira, a 26-year-old French tennis coach, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol and ICE after being denied entry to Canada while awaiting work visa paperwork. He spent a month in an ICE facility in Batavia, New York, where he experienced shackling, inadequate food and water, and harsh conditions before being released on bail and ordered to leave the U.S. within 15 days.

Venice Father Detained by ICE During Immigration Appointment

Feb 3, 2026Venice, CA

Ivan Garcia, a father and North Venice Little League community member, was detained by ICE while attending a scheduled immigration appointment related to his citizenship case. He was subsequently transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in San Bernardino County. His family has launched a fundraiser to cover legal fees and living expenses, with community support from the local youth sports league.

Immigration agents draw guns, arrest activists in Minneapolis

Feb 3, 2026Minneapolis, MN

Immigration officers with guns drawn arrested activists who were following their vehicles in south Minneapolis on Tuesday. At least one person wearing anti-ICE clothing was handcuffed face-down on the ground.

Three undocumented immigrants detained in Greenport ICE operation; one man fled

Feb 3, 2026Greenport, NY

Federal immigration agents detained Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, Martin Zambrano Diaz, and Alexandro Rivera Magana in Greenport on Wednesday morning, while a fourth man fled on foot during a separate operation on Ludlum Place. According to community advocates, the three detained men have lived in the area for over 20 years with no criminal backgrounds. The operations prompted school absences throughout the district as families responded to ICE presence in the community.

206 undocumented immigrants arrested in Maine ICE operation; 94% had no criminal convictions

Feb 3, 2026Maine, ME

Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested 206 undocumented immigrants in Maine during a multiday operation in January 2026. According to data from the Deportation Data Project, only 6% of those arrested had criminal convictions, while 80% had neither criminal charges nor convictions. Maine Public is tracking several cases using interviews, court records, and reporting from other media outlets. Since the operation, 37 of those arrested have been deported or voluntarily left the country.

Burmese refugee mother detained while breastfeeding released by federal court order

Feb 3, 2026MinnesotaBurma

Ta Eh Doh Lah, a Burmese refugee mother of four lawfully admitted to the U.S. in November 2024, was arrested by ICE agents at her St. Paul apartment on January 10, 2026, while breastfeeding her five-month-old baby. The arrest occurred one day after USCIS announced Operation PARRIS to re-examine refugee cases. She was immediately transferred to Texas despite having a pending adjustment of status application and no criminal record. Ta Eh Doh Lah has congenital heart disease requiring expert medical care. A federal magistrate judge found her detention was not authorized under federal law and recommended her release. The federal court ordered her immediate transfer back to Minnesota and release, and blocked Operation PARRIS across Minnesota, preventing the arrest or detention of refugees solely because they are awaiting status adjustment.

High school student arrested at routine ICE check-in in San Antonio

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Feb 3, 2026San Antonio, TX

A Natalia high school junior attended what was supposed to be a routine U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement check-in appointment in San Antonio to update his photograph. The appointment resulted in his arrest and detainment, leaving a toddler and stepfather behind for months.

Columbia Heights fourth-grader released after month in ICE detention

Feb 3, 2026Columbia Heights, MN

Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, a 10-year-old fourth-grade student, and her mother were released from the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas after nearly a month in ICE detention. The child and her mother were taken by immigration agents in early January. School officials and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called for their release at a news conference on February 3, 2026.

ICE agents attempt to detain Black American in New Jersey; family questions stop.

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Feb 3, 2026Mount Laurel, NJGuatemala

A woman reported that ICE agents attempted to kidnap her twin brother, a Black American man, in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. According to the account, agents rammed into his pickup truck and chased him without apparent reason. The family is seeking public awareness of the incident.