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
4153 incidents with known locations
⚐ Highlighted incident #335 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

Queer and trans immigrants allege abuse at Louisiana ICE detention facility.

Oct 16, 2025Basile, LA

Queer and trans immigrants detained at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center alleged they were forced into an unsanctioned work program performing hard manual labor for minimal pay, and sexually harassed and assaulted by an assistant warden named Manuel Reyes between 2023 and 2025. Detainees reported facing medical neglect, retaliation for reporting abuse, and having their complaints systematically ignored by ICE officials. Four detainees filed administrative complaints under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and civil rights complaints were submitted to DHS oversight bodies by RFK Human Rights, the ACLU of Louisiana, and the National Immigration Project.

Father of two struck and killed by truck while fleeing ICE agents in Florida

Jul 17, 2026St. Augustine, FLMexico

Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, a 28-year-old Honduran national and father of two, was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer on State Road 16 in St. Augustine, Florida on July 14, 2026, while fleeing ICE and Homeland Security Investigations agents. Coronilla Durán had arrived in the United States three weeks earlier on a valid tourist visa to work, according to his wife Yésica Alamilla López. During an early-morning operation at a Wawa gas station parking lot near Interstate 95, federal agents stopped a vehicle with four occupants; all four fled on foot. While attempting to cross the busy highway, Coronilla Durán slipped on wet grass in the median and was struck by the semi-truck. A veterinary nurse and an off-duty firefighter among bystanders attempted to render aid and perform CPR at the scene, but he died at the location. His death occurred during a week in which at least three other fatalities were linked to immigration enforcement encounters under the Trump administration's mass deportation campaign.

Man on valid visa arrested during asylum interview, separated from spouse and children

Jul 14, 2026Bakersfield, CA

A man who entered the U.S. on a valid visa and had complied with immigration appointments for seven years was arrested in the middle of his asylum interview. He faced transfer to a detention center near Bakersfield, separated from his American spouse and U.S.-born children. Attorney Elizabeth Knowles from the Bay Area Habeas Network filed an emergency habeas petition after midnight, and a federal judge ordered his immediate release within five hours.

Guatemalan immigrant detained at restaurant, wife fights for his release in federal court

Jul 14, 2026Weston, WVGuatemala

Erick Lionel Cristal Cumes, a Guatemalan immigrant, was detained by ICE on May 28 at Don Patron Mexican Grill in Weston during a raid that also resulted in the detention of more than a dozen other employees. He has been held at Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania since his arrest. Cumes is married to Lauren, an American-born citizen whom he married in April; they have been together four years. His attorney argues ICE violated his constitutional rights by detaining him without individualized assessment of flight risk or danger to the community. A federal judge ruled Cumes is entitled to a bond hearing and that his continued detention would be unlawful if the government cannot prove he poses danger or flight risk, with a bond hearing ordered by July 14. Over 50 community members appeared in federal court on June 25 to support Cumes, testifying he is a member of the community in good standing. Lauren testified about poor detention conditions including spoiled food and lack of responsiveness to requests for help, stating she is allowed contact with her husband about once per day. His attorney also argued the case should remain in West Virginia court rather than be transferred to Pennsylvania, contending that transfer could delay resolution of his case.

Seven immigrants released after judge orders ICE to comply with court ruling on detention

Jul 14, 2026Nevada

U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II ordered the release of immigrants detained in Nevada facilities, accusing Immigration and Customs Enforcement of defying his March 2026 ruling that the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy is unconstitutional. The detainees had been arrested without proper warrants and denied individualized determinations on whether they should be held or released on bond. Judge Boulware stated the individuals cannot be detained again until their removal proceedings are heard in immigration court, where the government must prove detention is justified by clear and convincing evidence. The judge described ICE's continued enforcement of the mandatory detention policy as "governmental lawlessness" and "rebelling" against his binding court order. Boulware warned he would consider sanctions against ICE officials who defied his orders and noted this was part of a broader pattern of ICE noncompliance with his directives in Nevada.

Guatemalan day laborer dies fleeing ICE raid at California Home Depot, family seeks answers

Jul 13, 2026Monrovia, CAGuatemala

Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez, a 52-year-old day laborer from Guatemala who had lived in the U.S. about three years, died after being struck by an SUV traveling roughly 60 mph while fleeing across Interstate 210 during a federal immigration enforcement operation at a Monrovia Home Depot. He worked to support his wife of 35 years, Ana María Vásquez, their four daughters, and grandchildren in Guatemala. His daughter Ana Victoria recalled his final phone call the night before his death, in which he spoke of hoping to return to Guatemala once he had saved enough to start his own business; his wife described him as 'a light' who brought joy to everyone, especially his grandchildren. Between eight and ten other day laborers from Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras were also arrested in the operation. The Department of Homeland Security has denied that agents chased or pursued him. Community advocates, including the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, have blamed the enforcement tactics for causing the panic that led to his death and are demanding Home Depot release security footage, while state lawmakers have renewed calls for the REPAIR Act (SB 1103) requiring large retailers to disclose immigration enforcement activity on their property.

Honduran gardener dies fleeing ICE during Virginia highway traffic stop

Jul 13, 2026Norfolk, VAHonduras

Josué Castro Rivera, a 24-year-old Honduran man who had lived in the U.S. for four years while sending money home to his family, was fatally struck by a pickup truck on October 23, 2025 while fleeing on foot across Interstate 264 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was on his way to a gardening job with three passengers when ICE agents stopped their vehicle as part of a targeted, intelligence-based operation and attempted to detain them. His brother, Henry Castro, said Castro Rivera 'had a very good heart' and has been raising funds to return his body to Honduras for burial. An ICE officer administered CPR, but Castro Rivera was pronounced dead at the scene; DHS said he 'resisted heavily and fled' before being struck. Virginia State Police confirmed the death and said they did not participate in the pursuit, with the crash remaining under investigation. His death followed those of a Mexican man fatally shot by federal agents near Chicago and a farmworker who died falling from a roof during an ICE raid in California.

Colombian man paroled into US detained without bond hearing, seeks habeas relief

Jul 13, 2026Pike County, PAColombia

A Colombian man, a citizen of Colombia, has been in the United States since December 29, 2024, when he presented at the border, was issued a Notice to Appear charging him as removable for lacking valid entry documents, and was granted parole and released on his own recognizance. He has applied for asylum. On July 13, 2026, he was arrested and detained by ICE and has remained in custody without a bond hearing since. He has no criminal history and no final order of removal, and is detained at the Pike County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania. On July 20, 2026, he filed a habeas corpus petition and a motion for a temporary restraining order in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, arguing that his detention under the mandatory detention provision of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) is unlawful because he was paroled into the country and is no longer 'seeking admission,' and that he is instead subject to the discretionary detention provision, 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a), which entitles him to a bond hearing.

Three men die within 24 hours during ICE operations in Maine, Georgia, Florida

Jul 13, 2026

On July 13, 2026, Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero was fatally shot outside his Biddeford, Maine home during an ICE operation, and Jesús Manuel Arenas-Silva lost consciousness and died while being transferred between detention centers in Georgia. The next day, Juan Jairo Coronilla Durán, a 28-year-old Mexican national visiting the United States, was struck and killed by a semitruck in St. Augustine, Florida after he and three others fled on foot from federal immigration officers during an encounter at a gas station parking lot. None of the three men were ICE's intended targets.

Iranian dissident denied release despite twice winning asylum

Jul 13, 2026CAIran

An Iranian man who was previously arrested, suspended from university, held in solitary confinement, and threatened with death in Iran for publishing political opposition magazines was arrested by ICE during a routine check-in in February 2025 after an immigration judge canceled his bond. He had twice been granted asylum by immigration judges, but the government appealed both grants and the Board of Immigration Appeals had not yet ruled on the merits when Judge Linda Lopez of the US District Court for the Southern District of California denied his habeas petition on July 13. Lopez said her hands were tied under a Ninth Circuit ruling and that his prolonged detention, while lengthy, was not indefinite.

Mother and son paroled into US in 2022 re-detained at ICE check-in, win habeas release

Jul 13, 2026Adelanto, CA

A mother and her adult son have lived in the United States since December 2022, when they were paroled into the country. The mother worked at a laundromat and supported her son's education, while the son worked at a food-packing facility, attended school, and earned his high school equivalency diploma. Both had complied with all ICE reporting requirements and had no criminal history. On July 13, 2026, over three and a half years after entering the country, they were detained without warning at a routine ICE check-in. They were held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center and filed petitions for writs of habeas corpus arguing their re-detention without notice or a hearing violated their Fifth Amendment due process rights. The government did not oppose their claims. The federal court granted the petitions, finding their re-detention violated due process, and ordered their release within 24 hours under their prior conditions of release, with return of their personal belongings and immigration documents.

Mexican national in ICE custody challenges removal order citing pending immigration petitions

Jul 13, 2026Watonga, OKMexico

A Mexican national and noncitizen is currently held in ICE custody at Diamondback Correctional Facility in Oklahoma. He has a final order of removal and is seeking to prevent his removal to Mexico or a third country. He claims membership in the Immigration Center for Women and Children (ICWC) class of ICE detainees with pending immigration benefit applications, including U Visa petitions, and states he has a pending Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)-based petition that bears on his removability and eligibility for relief. He filed a habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 and moved for a stay of removal pending resolution of his petition, or alternatively, for a temporary restraining order (TRO). The Magistrate Judge recommended denying his motion for stay/TRO, finding the Western District of Oklahoma lacks jurisdiction to enjoin removal proceedings under 8 U.S.C. § 1252(g), which bars district courts from hearing claims arising from DHS decisions to execute removal orders.

Chinese national re-detained at LAX after two years living lawfully in U.S.

Jul 13, 2026Los Angeles, CAChina

A Chinese national admitted to the U.S. on a valid B-1/B-2 visa on April 4, 2024, was re-detained by ICE on July 13, 2026, at Los Angeles International Airport without notice, warrant, or hearing. During her two+ years in the country, she had been granted employment authorization, worked lawfully, established community ties, and maintained a clean criminal record while her asylum application was pending. The court ordered her release on her prior conditions within 24 hours, finding her re-detention without pre-deprivation process violated Fifth Amendment due process rights.

Noncitizen Released After Court Rules on Pre-Deprivation Bond Hearing

Jul 13, 2026

A noncitizen was re-detained on June 26, 2026, after having been previously released on bond or conditional parole. The government failed to provide him with a pre-deprivation bond hearing before a neutral arbiter before re-detaining him, violating the Due Process Clause. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted his petition for writ of habeas corpus and motion for temporary restraining order, ordering his immediate release with the same conditions he was subject to prior to detention, and requiring the government to provide at least seven days' notice and a pre-deprivation bond hearing before any future re-detention.

Boy with Down syndrome detained by ICE, family doesn't know where he is

Jul 13, 2026Bridge City, LA

Yeison Saúl Menjívar Portillo, a boy with Down syndrome and epilepsy who is nonverbal and hearing impaired, was detained by ICE in Bridge City, a suburb of New Orleans, Louisiana. His family says they do not know where he is or whether he is safe. His mother stated he requires specific medication for epileptic seizures and cannot survive or care for himself without her presence, and she is asking authorities to either tell her where he is or deport her with him.

Woman detained by ICE after immigration appointment

GoFundMe📦Fundraiser only
July 13, 2026Exton, PA

Diana, a longtime community member known for her kindness and generosity, was taken into ICE custody after attending a scheduled immigration appointment. She is currently awaiting a bond hearing while her immigration case proceeds. Her family and friends are raising funds to cover legal fees, bond costs, and other case-related expenses.

ICE detainees describe fear, wildfire smoke, and prayer at McCook facility

Jul 13, 2026McCook, NE

Detainees at a McCook, Nebraska ICE detention facility reported experiencing fear and hazardous conditions as wildfire smoke drifted into the center. The article documents detainees' accounts of their experiences, including prayer and other coping mechanisms during the smoky conditions at the facility.

Cuban detainee deported to Ecuador after hunger strikes, alleges ICE silencing

Jul 13, 2026Florence, AZCuba

A Cuban national held at Florence Correctional Center in Arizona staged multiple hunger strikes to protest what he described as inhumane detention conditions and lack of transparency regarding his asylum claims. He alleges that ICE subjected him to solitary confinement and restrictive measures to isolate him from legal counsel and advocacy groups after his protests gained attention. He was subsequently deported to Ecuador, a third country, which terminated his ability to participate in U.S. legal proceedings.

Dozens detained in ICE sweep targeting Spanish-speaking workers across Broome County

Jul 13, 2026Broome County, NY

Twenty-two people from the Greater Binghamton area were detained over one week during heightened ICE enforcement in Broome County, with local officials and activists later estimating the total at 25 to 30. Most detentions occurred as people commuted to work or worked outdoor jobs between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m., at locations including a Home Depot in Johnson City, a McDonald's in Endicott, Endicott BOCES, a Walmart in Vestal and a Johnson City hotel. Those detained were mostly Spanish speakers but also included people of South Asian and Central Asian descent, and several, including one BOCES employee, were legally present in the United States. Local leaders, including a Binghamton City Council member and the Johnson City mayor, have publicly condemned the operations, while community organizations continue to urge precautions and provide an ICE reporting hotline.

Ecuadorian man arrested in Bushwick for failing to comply with detention alternative program

Jul 13, 2026Bushwick, NYEcuador

Danny Joel Quispe Maizanche, an Ecuadorian national, was arrested by ICE officers on Himrod Street in Bushwick during a targeted enforcement operation. He entered the United States near Santa Teresa, New Mexico, in April 2024 and was enrolled in the federal Alternatives to Detention program but failed to comply with its reporting requirements. According to DHS, Quispe Maizanche has accepted Incentivized Voluntary Departure and is expected to return to Ecuador.

Mexican national dies in ICE custody at Texas detention center, civil rights groups demand investigation

Jul 13, 2026Laredo, TXMexico

Félix Alcorta Rodríguez, a 63-year-old Mexican national, died on June 19, 2026, at Webb County Detention Center in Laredo, Texas, after being found unresponsive in his cell. ICE personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation before he was transferred to Laredo Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. He had been in ICE custody for only a few days and was transferred to ICE custody after serving time for prior traffic violations. The cause of death is pending autopsy results. His death was one of at least 16 Mexican nationals who died in U.S. immigration detention facilities during the current federal administration, and the 20th person to die in ICE custody in 2026. Civil rights advocates from the Laredo Immigrant Alliance and Texas Civil Rights Project presented a report to Webb County commissioners detailing alleged violations at the facility, including failure to monitor suicidal detainees for up to 22 hours and delays of up to 25 days in conducting initial medical assessments. The Mexican government filed complaints and demanded criminal investigations into the death.