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
4148 incidents with known locations
⚐ Highlighted incident #12941 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

Haitian woman seeks bond hearing after ICE arrest while returning from work

Oct 1, 2026Springfield, OHHaiti

Darline Jean Baptiste, a 33-year-old Haitian woman, was arrested by ICE in Springfield, Ohio on Aug. 14 while returning home from work during what the agency called a "targeted alien enforcement operation," and has since been held at the Butler County Jail. She entered the U.S. through a Florida airport in November 2023 under a humanitarian parole program, financially supports two children in Haiti, and said she fled her homeland due to daily threats of violence. An immigration judge denied her a bond hearing, ruling he lacked jurisdiction because she was considered an "arriving alien," and later withdrew her bond request entirely. On September 23, 2026, she filed a federal habeas corpus petition in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, naming the warden of Butler County Corrections Center as respondent, supported by exhibits including her I-94, employment authorization document, an employer letter, and letters of support. In her court declaration, she said she is not a flight risk or danger to the community and committed to attending all future immigration court hearings if released. The government's attorneys filed a motion to dismiss her petition, and her attorneys filed a response in opposition on October 1, 2026.

U.S. citizen detained defending coworker during car wash immigration raid in Bell

Jun 20, 2025Bell, CA

Federal agents conducted an immigration raid at Jack's Car Wash in Bell, detaining at least three people. A U.S. citizen employee wearing a white long-sleeved shirt was tackled and detained after attempting to defend a coworker, according to his brother Jesús Rafael Cervantes. The raid sparked protests, with crowds confronting masked federal agents and property damage to federal vehicles occurring amid the confrontation. Federal agents used tear gas and flash bang grenades to disperse protesters.

Longtime parishioner detained by ICE while landscaping at Montclair church

Jun 20, 2025Montclair, CA

A longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Montclair was detained by ICE agents on June 20, 2025, while doing landscaping work on church property. His family is involved in the parish ministry. According to ICE, the man was initially stopped during a traffic stop near the church and chose to pull into the church parking lot, where officers made the arrest. The detention occurred after President Trump revoked protections for immigration enforcement at sensitive locations including churches, schools, and hospitals that had been in place since the Obama administration. On the same day, ICE agents chased several other men onto the parking lot of St. Adelaide parish in Highland.

14 people detained by ICE at Chesterfield County Courthouse during court proceedings

Jun 20, 2025Chesterfield County, VA

Over three days in late June, ICE detained 14 people at the Chesterfield County Courthouse while they were attending court proceedings on criminal charges. Six people were detained on June 20, six more on June 23, and two additional people on June 24, according to Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin defended the detentions as part of a statewide collaboration between Virginia State Police, ICE, and other federal agencies, stating that the detainees were in the country illegally.

Plainclothes federal agent draws gun on man at stoplight in Pasadena

Jun 20, 2025Pasadena, California

A plainclothes federal law enforcement officer drew a weapon on a man attempting to photograph his vehicle's license plate at a stoplight in Pasadena. The incident occurred Wednesday morning around the same time federal immigration agents conducted enforcement operations at a nearby bus stop, detaining multiple day laborers. Masked plainclothes agents arrested at least two men and several other day laborers, transporting them in an unmarked minivan.

Construction worker detained at Metro stop after warrantless arrest by armed agents

Jun 18, 2025Los Angeles, CA

Pedro Vasquez Perdomo, a 54-year-old Latino man, has lived in Pasadena, California for decades and works as a day laborer in construction while managing diabetes. On June 18, 2025, at 5:30 a.m., he was waiting at a Metro stop near Orange Grove Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue with coworkers to be picked up for a construction job when four large black vehicles with tinted windows arrived. Armed men wearing masks but no visible badges or identification emerged with guns and surrounded him and his coworkers. Perdomo was handcuffed without being informed of any warrant and stated his right to remain silent in English. He was taken to a CVS parking lot where officers searched his pockets, found his expired foreign consular ID, and placed him in a car. He was transported to a detention center in Los Angeles where he was held in a crowded room with 52 others, given minimal food and water, and provided no medical attention for six days despite his diabetes requiring daily medication management. He was then transferred to Adelanto detention facility where he remains shackled and continues to experience health deterioration and psychological distress. Vasquez Perdomo is challenging his detention and the conditions thereof through this litigation.

Brazilian student detained 15 days after traffic stop, now suing ICE

Jun 20, 2025Grand Junction, COBrazil

Caroline Dias Goncalves, a 19-year-old University of Utah nursing student from Brazil, was detained by ICE on June 5, 2025, following a traffic stop by a Mesa County Sheriff's deputy on Interstate 70 near Fruita, Colorado. The deputy shared information about her in a group chat used for drug interdiction efforts, which ICE agents then used to target her for immigration enforcement. Goncalves, who immigrated to the U.S. at age 7 and has a pending asylum application, was held at an ICE facility in Aurora, Colorado for 15 days, where she reported receiving poor quality food and confusing schedules, and observed differential treatment based on English proficiency. She was released on bond on June 20, 2025, and became a named plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against ICE leadership.

Pregnant US citizen detained by Border Patrol agents

Jun 19, 2025

A pregnant U.S. citizen was detained by Border Patrol agents approximately two weeks prior to this report. The individual stated they did not believe they had done anything wrong. The article documents this immigration enforcement incident involving a U.S. citizen.

Senator Padilla handcuffed and forced to ground at Noem press conference

Jun 19, 2025Los Angeles, California

Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed, pushed to the ground, and handcuffed by federal agents after interrupting a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles. Padilla had attempted to question Noem's characterization of federal military deployment in response to protests over immigration enforcement actions targeting undocumented immigrants. He identified himself as a senator and asserted his role before being restrained. Padilla was released shortly after the incident. The FBI defended the agents' actions when questioned about the Department of Homeland Security's response.

Border Patrol arrests woman selling tamales, she suffers heart attack

Jun 19, 2025Pacoima, CAMexico

During an immigration sweep on June 19 outside a Lowe's store in Pacoima, Border Patrol agents arrested a 54-year-old woman who had sold tamales at the same spot for 10 years, without presenting a warrant. She lost consciousness after being restrained and later suffered a heart attack; witnesses said a bystander identifying herself as a nurse was denied access to help before LAFD paramedics arrived. She was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, where doctors confirmed a minor heart attack. A U.S. citizen recording the incident was also arrested and detained, and a federal judge later ruled the sweeps violated the 4th Amendment due to racial profiling.

Rock Springs business owner detained five months after traffic stop, released via habeas corpus

Jun 19, 2025Rock Springs, WYMexico

Ana Cañedo Luna, co-owner of Don Chingonas food truck and Club Elite nightclub in Rock Springs, Wyoming, was detained by ICE on January 9, 2025, following a traffic stop over a license plate registration error, despite holding valid work authorization. She was held four days at the Sweetwater County Detention Center before being transferred to the ICE Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, where her case was later moved to the Board of Immigration Appeals in Virginia. Cañedo, who came to the United States at age 10, discovered her previous attorney had requested a voluntary departure without her knowledge or consent, prompting her to switch to local attorneys and file a writ of habeas corpus. After five months and ten days in custody, she was released on June 19 and reunited with her wife, Gloria Guerra. Cañedo said she has continuously pursued U.S. citizenship and described the detention as 'psychological torture' and a 'never-ending nightmare,' adding that she remains fearful of future arrest while continuing to fight her immigration case.

Man challenges detention without bond hearing, wins court order for release

Jun 19, 2025Soviet Union

A petitioner in immigration proceedings challenged his detention without an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge. On May 15, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) ordering respondents to immediately release him from detention and enjoining them from continuing to detain him or placing any new restrictions on his liberty, such as electronic monitoring, unless he received a proper bond hearing with reasonable notice and opportunity to prepare before an immigration judge pursuant to 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). On May 29, 2026, the court held oral argument on whether to issue a preliminary injunction. At the hearing, respondents consented to the adoption of the TRO's terms as a final judgment and permanent injunction. The court granted the petition and permanently enjoined respondents from detaining him or restricting his liberty without proper process.

US citizen photographer arrested while filming ICE raid at Home Depot

Jun 19, 2025Los Angeles, CA

Job Garcia, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and PhD student, was arrested and detained for over 24 hours on June 19, 2025, while filming an ICE immigration raid at a Home Depot in Hollywood, Los Angeles. CBP agents tackled Garcia without warning, smashed his phone, and restrained him as he attempted to document the arrest of day laborers and inform them of their rights. Garcia was released without arraignment or court date notification. MALDEF and Garcia are seeking $1 million in damages from the Department of Homeland Security through a Federal Tort Claims Act notice, citing wrongful arrest, detention based on race, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and interference with his right to document government actions.

Two individuals arrested in Fontana as officers misidentified as ICE agents

Jun 18, 2025Fontana, CA

Two individuals were arrested in Fontana on June 20, 2025, at approximately 9:24 AM by Fontana Police Department officers who were misidentified as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents during the operation.

ICE agent draws gun on man photographing vehicle during Pasadena enforcement operation

Jun 18, 2025Pasadena, CA

An ICE agent drew a gun on a man who was photographing a vehicle's license plate during an enforcement operation at a bus stop near Orange Grove Boulevard and Los Robles Avenue in Pasadena on Wednesday morning. Video footage posted by immigration advocacy account Stop ICE Mobile Alerts shows the agent jumping out of an unmarked car and pointing the gun directly at the individual before returning to the vehicle without making an arrest or explanation. Multiple people were reportedly taken away from nearby Dena's Burgers by masked agents in unmarked vehicles during the same operation.

Guatemalan mother detained by ICE despite requesting deportation, family leaving U.S.

Jun 18, 2025Manassas, VAGuatemala

Claudia Alvarenga España, a Guatemalan woman living in Manassas, Virginia, with her husband Jhoan Mesen and four U.S.-born children, was taken into ICE custody on June 3, 2025, during a required check-in at an ICE office in Chantilly while pursuing withholding of removal protection. She fled Guatemala in 2010 to escape domestic abuse and human trafficking, has no criminal record, and was in compliance with her order of supervision. Despite a federal judge's order prohibiting her removal, she was deported to Guatemala on June 10 but returned to the U.S. the next day after a Guatemalan official informed her of a pending hearing. She has since requested voluntary deportation and remains in ICE detention in Texas with no clear timeline for processing her request. Unable to endure continued family separation, her husband announced in mid-June that the family has decided to voluntarily leave the United States and relocate to Costa Rica to reunite with her, ending their 15-year residence, and has begun preparations to sell their home.

Venezuelan migrant deported to El Salvador after baseless gang accusation

Jun 18, 2025Maverick County, TXVenezuela

Pedro Luis Salazar-Cuervo, a 28-year-old Venezuelan migrant with no criminal record, was accused by Texas DPS of being a Tren de Aragua gang member based on a photo showing him with a tattooed man. He was deported to a maximum security prison in El Salvador in March 2025. A Texas judge ordered the state to request his return to face trespassing charges in August.

ICE agents detain 12-15 people in Danbury sweep near courthouse

Jun 17, 2025Danbury, CT

ICE agents detained an estimated 12 to 15 people in Danbury on June 17, 2025, in what Greater Danbury Unites for Immigrants described as a significant enforcement operation. According to witnesses, one woman was removed from her car (which contained children's toys) on a residential street, and at least one man was taken from outside the Danbury Superior Courthouse. The detentions, which occurred across 5th Street, Moss Avenue, and White Street near the courthouse, sparked fear in the community and prompted a rally organized by immigrant advocacy groups. The operation was part of stepped-up immigration enforcement across Connecticut in recent days.

ICE arrests undocumented Guatemalan man at Cincinnati Kroger; community calls for release

Jun 17, 2025Blue Ash, OHGuatemala

On May 31, 2025, ICE agents arrested Alonzo Tomas Mendez, a 34-year-old Guatemalan immigrant, while he was shopping at a Kroger store in East Price Hill, Cincinnati. Mendez was taken into custody and left his partner and four children in a parked car. He has been held in Butler County Jail with an ICE hold pending immigration proceedings. Faith leaders, community advocates, and church members have called for his release on bond, citing his three years of residence in the U.S., active participation in his evangelical church, and lack of criminal record. His immigration hearings have been postponed.

Migrant families describe prolonged detention in border facilities

Jun 17, 2025

Migrant families with young children, including toddlers, were held for days and sometimes weeks in US Customs and Border Protection facilities with jail-like conditions, according to interviews conducted by attorneys and submitted to federal court. The filings reveal details of families detained in 2025 in border facilities not designed for that purpose, including cases where children were held for over 40 days in crowded rooms without windows. Attorneys argue CBP detention violates the 1997 Flores settlement agreement, which requires children be released without unnecessary delay and dictates conditions of custody.

Honduran Man Detained by ICE After 24 Years on Parole

Jun 17, 2025TexasHonduras

Jose Francisco Orellana-Rivera, who arrived from Honduras at age 4 and was paroled into the community in 2001, was detained by ICE in June 2025 after 24 years of living freely in the United States. He is married to a U.S. citizen with two citizen children and was previously granted DACA. The court ordered his immediate release, finding his detention without a pre-detention hearing violated due process rights.