Human Impact Project

A leaked video from an ICE detention center in Louisiana shows detainees begging for food. Former detainee Victor Nery and Chris, originally from El Salvador, reported being subjected to hunger and poor conditions, with cells holding 90-110 detainees each.

Jaqueline (Jacky) Ramirez Juarez, an honors student at Cedartown High School in Georgia, was detained by ICE weeks before her scheduled graduation. The student, who planned to attend Georgia Highlands College to pursue nursing, faced an uncertain future as her family fought for her release while dealing with mounting legal fees. Her community launched a fundraiser to support her case. Despite her detention, she was recognized during graduation ceremonies for her academic achievements, with classmates and faculty honoring her despite her absence from the ceremony.

On May 18, 2026, ICE agents detained 31-year-old DACA recipient and community organizer Karla Toledo at her Tucson home without presenting a judicial warrant, despite her maintaining valid DACA status since age 1 and having no criminal record. ICE agents were reportedly searching for someone else when they arrested Toledo. DHS alleged Toledo assaulted a federal officer and illegally entered the U.S. in October 2024—claims she disputed using video footage showing her compliance and asserting she had legally used advance parole authorization available to DACA recipients. During the arrest, agents allegedly used force to prevent the door from closing and denied her attorney access. Her mother, Veronica Ortiz, held a press conference pleading for her release, and attorney Mo Goldman stated allegations of assault were fabricated, with surveillance footage supporting Toledo's account. Following community protests and statements by U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva, Mexican consulate representatives, and local nonprofits, Toledo was approved for a $1,500 bond and released from Eloy Detention Center. One day after dismissing an earlier deportation case, DHS filed a second notice to appear in immigration court against Toledo.

Jairo Antonio Molina Moron, a 38-year-old Venezuelan national, was arrested by ICE Buffalo's Fugitive Operations Team and U.S. Marshals Service deputies during a targeted operation in Albion on May 24, 2026. Molina had been arrested by Yonkers Police Department in February 2025 for felony assault, and ICE lodged an immigration detainer, but local authorities refused to honor it and released him. He is now detained in ICE custody pending immigration proceedings.

ICE New Orleans conducted a week-long enforcement operation in Sevier County and surrounding areas in East Tennessee from May 24-31, 2026, resulting in 117 arrests. The operation targeted noncitizens, some of whom had prior criminal convictions. According to ICE, those arrested included individuals with convictions for assault, driving under the influence, and other offenses, though some may have faced immigration charges rather than criminal prosecution.

On May 18, 2026, Rogerio da Silva Lima and his 15-year-old son Nycolas were detained by the U.S. Coast Guard during a recreational fishing trip approximately one mile offshore Martha's Vineyard near Menemsha. Following a vessel safety check, the Coast Guard transferred them to ICE custody at a federal processing facility in Burlington. Da Silva Lima, a Brazilian national who entered the U.S. in 2021 and sought asylum, had a denied asylum application with a removal order issued in 2023-2024. Community advocates and attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition in U.S. District Court of Massachusetts on May 20, which halted a planned transfer to Texas. A federal judge found ICE had exceeded the congressionally mandated 90-day removal period and violated constitutional due process rights. Approximately 200 students at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, where the son was a freshman, walked out to protest his detention. The teenager was released on May 24 to his older brother, and the father was ordered released by May 28-29.

Daniel Romero, 18, a Colombian national and recent graduate of Ooltewah High School in Tennessee, was taken into ICE custody on May 18, 2026, during what his family believed was a routine appointment related to an immigration program. ICE cited missed check-ins and failure to submit required weekly photos as reasons for detention. Romero's family disputed the allegations, claiming the check-in app malfunctioned for four weeks and provided documented evidence of the technical error, but officials did not allow Romero to present this proof before his arrest. Records provided by the family indicated compliance with program requirements. He was held at Etowah County Jail in Alabama before being transferred to a detention center in Louisiana, where no bond, video calls, or visitation were allowed.

Jose Danilo Diaz Sandoval, who had lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years and was in the process of obtaining a green card, was detained and deported by ICE in January 2026. His granddaughter Malani, whom he was raising, is a survivor of the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Diaz's wife is a U.S. citizen. After spending four months in Honduras, he returned to the United States following legal efforts by his family.

A U.S.-born mother of four was stopped at an ICE checkpoint in a residential area of Lafayette and detained despite presenting a valid Louisiana state ID and Social Security card. ICE agents accused her documents of being forged, handcuffed and shackled her at the ankles, and transported her to a USCIS field office for interrogation before moving her to South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile. An immigration attorney secured her release by submitting identification documents. ICE did not apologize and confiscated her Social Security card.

A man pursuing asylum in Maine since 2021 through official legal channels was unexpectedly detained by ICE for 21 days despite having documentation of his ongoing legal process. He was released and returned home to his wife and four children (two born in the U.S.), but his asylum case was moved to formal Immigration Court, requiring a defensive asylum case before a judge to avoid deportation. His family is raising funds for private legal representation to mount his court defense.

A 22-year-old transgender woman and Nicaraguan citizen was re-detained by ICE on May 22, 2026 during a scheduled check-in and transferred to the Northwest ICE Processing Center (NWIPC) in Tacoma, Washington. Despite identifying as a woman, Respondents housed her in a male detention unit where she experienced verbal harassment and fear for her safety. The court granted her motion for a temporary restraining order, enjoining Respondents from housing her in a male detention unit or solitary confinement, and ordered Respondents to either move her to appropriate housing or release her within 24 hours.

Jorge Cubillos, a Colombian who spent eight years in the U.S. after fleeing threats from a criminal group in his home country, was deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo on April 15, 2026, despite holding a work permit and withholding of removal protection granted by an immigration judge in 2022 under the UN Convention Against Torture. He was arrested on a domestic battery charge in 2026, after which ICE lodged a detainer that was honored by jail authorities. Cubillos was separated from his wife and four children in St. Cloud, Florida, and put on a flight to Congo without being informed of his destination until shortly before departure. He is now housed in a hotel in Kinshasa with 14 other Latin American deportees and reports poor conditions including frequent power cuts, lack of drinking water, and illness. The Trump administration defended the deportation as lawful under a third-country deportation policy, arguing that withholding of removal protection bars return to Colombia but not transfer to third countries.

Federal law enforcement arrested 13 undocumented immigrants during a two-day operation at a window supply business in Paducah, Kentucky in May 2026. Eight of those arrested were indicted by a federal grand jury for using stolen Social Security numbers on employment eligibility verification forms (I-9s) between June 2021 and August 2025. The eight indicted defendants each face up to five years in federal prison if convicted. The remaining five arrested individuals were not criminally charged and were placed in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Mosaih Omar Wright, a Jamaican national previously deported from the U.S. in 2013 after serving a murder sentence, was taken into custody at a federal prison in New York on May 22, 2026. Wright had entered the U.S. as a stowaway in 1995, was convicted of murder in Minnesota in 1997, and later re-entered the country illegally after his 2013 deportation. He now faces removal proceedings for a second time.

Adys Lastres Morera, a lawful permanent resident living in Florida, was arrested by ICE Homeland Security Investigations on May 21-22, 2026, following the revocation of her green card by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The revocation was based on her sister Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera's position as executive president of GAESA, Cuba's military-controlled business conglomerate. Morera had arrived legally as a permanent resident in January 2023 and subsequently registered as manager of real estate investment companies in Florida. After her arrest, she was transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, and held pending removal proceedings. Her son, a U.S. citizen, disputed the revocation and sought legal representation.

Gabriel Leiva was detained at the North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin, Michigan. He fought with staff who removed him from his pod and requested to be killed while handcuffed and shackled. After being placed in solitary confinement, he covered his cell window, kicked the door, and displayed suicidal behavior. When police responded to a 911 call, he expressed confusion about being in solitary confinement.

Juan Pablo Vasquez-Miranda was arrested by ICE officers on Wednesday in Hartford. At least one officer wore a mask and lacked clear identification, appearing to violate state law. Vasquez-Miranda had entered the U.S. in November 2022 on parole, which was subsequently terminated. He faced pending state charges for disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call, and strangulation/suffocation.

Victor López Delara, a 29-year-old mobile mechanic who immigrated to the U.S. at age 4 and lived in Florissant, Missouri for 26 years, was detained by ICE in February 2026 after an O'Fallon police officer pulled him over for not having a front license plate. During the traffic stop, police discovered an active ICE detainer and transferred him to ICE custody. López Delara had no criminal history aside from a 2015 speeding ticket, was employed as a mobile mechanic, owned a small business, and had two young daughters. He qualified for DACA but was unable to submit an application due to financial constraints and lack of a high school diploma. His petition to cancel deportation was denied by a judge who determined his children could adapt to relocation. López Delara was deported to Mexico, with his fiancée and children planning to follow.

A 45-year-old farm worker identified as MJMA was detained along with six others when ICE agents stopped a van without a warrant on October 30, 2025. Officers smashed the van window, used facial recognition technology to attempt identification, and detained MJMA despite her assertion of her right to remain silent and request for legal representation. She had an ongoing asylum case at the time. Federal Judge Mustafa Kasubhai ruled in February 2026 that the arrests were unlawful, citing officer misconduct, inaccurate statements in reports, and improper use of facial recognition technology. The judge noted that MJMA had entered the U.S. with a valid temporary visa, contrary to officers' claims.

Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez, a 42-year-old DACA recipient who had lived in the United States for 27 years after arriving in 1998 at age 15, was arrested and deported to Mexico on February 18, 2025, during a green card interview at a USCIS office in Sacramento, California. Immigration agents cited a 1998 expedited removal order from her initial border crossing, despite her valid DACA status, lack of criminal history, and previous federal approvals to remain in the country. She was removed within 24 hours. Following a lawsuit by her attorneys, U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins issued a temporary restraining order on March 23, 2025, ruling the deportation a "flagrant violation" of her DACA protections and due process rights. Estrada Juarez was granted humanitarian parole and reentered the United States on March 30, 2025, at the San Ysidro border crossing, where she was reunited with her daughter.

Andry Hernández Romero, a gay makeup artist from Venezuela, legally entered the U.S. in August 2024 and passed a credible fear interview for asylum. In March 2025, the Trump administration deported him to CECOT, a maximum security prison in El Salvador, under the Alien Enemies Act as part of a broader deportation of 237 Venezuelan migrants. Authorities cited tattoos allegedly linking him to gang activity, which his family disputed as relating to a local cultural festival. Hernández Romero was detained in CECOT for over four months before being released in July 2025 as part of a prisoner swap. He was subsequently returned to Venezuela rather than allowed to remain in the U.S. His case became part of a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations. A Venezuelan makeup artist was deported to El Salvador and subsequently traveled to Spain to seek asylum. The person states they feel safe in Spain and is pursuing asylum protection there.

Denis Isaías Anariba Herrera, a 24-year-old Honduran, was deported on Christmas Eve 2025 and died of heat exposure while attempting to return to his one-year-old daughter and wife in the United States. He had lived in Houston for five years before his deportation. After spending approximately two months in Mexico, Anariba boarded a Union Pacific freight train in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, headed toward Texas in May 2026. He died inside a railroad container along with six other migrants from extreme temperatures while trapped in the car. His mother, Denia Herrera, recalled his last message to her: "Never forget my little girl, always go see her, visit her." His father, Isaías Anariba, a 47-year-old farmer and construction worker, had emigrated to the U.S. when Denis was a child. His aunt Lilian described him as hardworking and quiet. His family is raising funds for his funeral, planned for May 21 in Houston.

A man who entered the United States in February 2006 was previously detained by ICE and released on bond in 2024. He was re-detained by ICE on May 21, 2026. The court granted his habeas corpus petition, finding that his re-detention violated due process because he was not provided pre-deprivation notice and an opportunity to be heard before an immigration judge. The court ordered his immediate release on the same conditions he was subject to prior to re-detention.

A noncitizen in removal proceedings was detained at Adelanto ICE Processing Center on May 21, 2026 without prior explanation or hearing after missing seven biometric check-ins over ten months in the ISAP program. He had been released on his own recognizance in 2024 and was complying with release conditions while his asylum and withholding of removal application was pending. An immigration judge denied his post-detention bond hearing, citing Matter of Q. Li. The federal court granted his habeas petition, finding his detention violated due process because he was not provided pre-deprivation process and ordered his immediate release on the original conditions of release.

Jimmy Chang, a 37-year-old Georgia realtor, was killed in a crash in Chamblee when 20-year-old Christian Fernando Irias-Ruiz ran a red light at 100 mph and struck Chang's vehicle. Irias-Ruiz, a noncitizen from Honduras who was previously arrested by Border Patrol in 2021, faces charges including homicide by vehicle, DUI, reckless driving, and driving under the influence while underage. ICE placed a detainer with the DeKalb County jail.

Michael Rabbitt and five other protesters were indicted on felony conspiracy charges for blocking an ICE vehicle during demonstrations at a detention facility in Broadview, Illinois. The case collapsed in May 2026 when a federal judge found prosecutors engaged in grand jury misconduct, including improper jury influence and removal of disagreeing jurors. All charges were dropped by the U.S. Attorney's office, though defendants report enduring months of stress and owing over $1 million in legal fees.

Javier Batista Pérez, 62, and Emilio Nieves Matanzas were deported to Cuba on May 21, 2026, despite having pending appeals and approved habeas corpus petitions in federal court. Both men had no criminal records and were transferred to detention centers in Louisiana before deportation. A federal judge has ordered ICE to explain Nieves Matanzas's deportation, with a response deadline of July 27, 2026. Their families and lawyers contend the government violated judicial processes by deporting them while legal proceedings were active.

Emilio Nieves Matanzas, a Cuban national residing in Florida with an I-220A document, was arrested by ICE during a traffic stop on November 23, 2025, and deported to Cuba on May 21, 2026, while his asylum appeal and habeas corpus petition were pending in federal court. On June 14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security granted him special parole to return legally to the United States, where he can seek permanent residency. His attorney argued the initial deportation violated constitutional protections for immigrants awaiting higher court decisions.

A man was detained by ICE in Buffalo, New York on May 21, 2026, while traveling for work. His family is raising funds to cover legal fees and expenses to defend his case.

Jose was detained by ICE on May 21, 2026 without a warrant while taking his 3-year-old daughter to school and transported to Aurora ICE detention facility. He had a pending immigration case since 2024 to adjust his immigration status and was awaiting USCIS office response at the time of detention. His family is facing emotional and financial hardship as a result.

Selah Dine Habib, a Mauritanian national, entered the United States near the Arizona border in March 2023 and applied for asylum claiming persecution based on sexual orientation. While his asylum case was pending, he secured employment as an unarmed corrections officer at Jay County Jail in Indiana after marrying a woman and presenting employment authorization documents that passed I-9 verification and E-Verify checks. In May 2026, ICE arrested Habib after DHS investigators determined his asylum application was fraudulent, citing the contradiction between his claimed homosexual identity and his subsequent marriage to a woman. He is currently detained at Clay County Jail in Brazil, Indiana, and faces removal proceedings.

Etinosa Osahon, a 49-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles on May 21, 2026, and remains in federal custody pending removal proceedings. He faces charges including theft, possession of stolen mail, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Osahon has been identified as a priority for removal under U.S. immigration enforcement policies and is among 110 convicted Nigerian nationals scheduled for deportation in 2026.

Parminderpal Singh, a 26-year-old Indian national, was arrested by ICE Los Angeles on May 21, 2026. Singh has a criminal record including vehicle theft, grand theft, trespassing, and vandalism. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.

Miguel Angel Gomez Alvarado, who had lived in the United States for 14-15 years as an undocumented immigrant, was stopped by police during a traffic stop between November 2025 and February 2026 and turned over to ICE, which held him in deportation proceedings without a bond hearing. Gomez had no criminal record and was raising American citizen children. A federal judge found that holding him without a bond hearing violated his due process rights and ordered his release. The Trump administration appealed the decision to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled on July 2, 2026, that the government cannot hold undocumented immigrants for more than 90 days without a bond hearing and must articulate individualized justification for detention.

Barnabas Terhemba Jime, a 31-year-old Nigerian national, was arrested by ICE during enforcement operations for wire fraud-related offenses. Jime has a prior conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He remains in ICE custody pending removal from the United States.

Rogelio Cortez, 50, was arrested during a traffic stop initiated by Texas Department of Public Safety near a West Side library. State troopers said Cortez had an outstanding vehicle burglary warrant. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including ICE, responded to the scene. Bexar County officials stated Cortez was not a voter and the incident did not affect polling site access or voting operations.

Three undocumented immigrants—Ignacio Sosnava Rodriguez, Miguel Angel Gomez Alvarado, and Alejandro Villegas Angel—were detained by ICE after police stops in Taylor, Texas between November 2025 and February 2026. All three had lived in the U.S. for 14-22 years with no criminal records and were held without bond hearings. Federal judges ruled their detention violated due process rights and ordered their release. The Trump administration appealed, and their cases are now before the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which will decide whether undocumented immigrants have constitutional rights to challenge their detention.

Elvira Benitez-Suarez, a 51-year-old mother of four U.S. citizen children who has lived in Wisconsin for 35 years, was detained by ICE on March 10, 2026, during a routine check-in appointment in Milwaukee. An immigration judge had previously ruled her deportation should be canceled and approved her green card application, but the Department of Homeland Security appealed that decision. After spending over two months in custody at Campbell County Detention Center in Kentucky, a 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling against the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy opened the possibility of a bond hearing. On May 21, 2026, an immigration judge granted her a $1,500 bond, though the government reserved the right to appeal during the 30-day appeal window.

Rafie Ollah Shouhed, a 79-year-old U.S. citizen and owner of Valley Car Wash in Van Nuys, California, was physically assaulted by immigration agents during a September 9, 2025 raid on his business. When Shouhed questioned the operation and attempted to vouch for employees being arrested, masked agents forced him to the ground. Surveillance footage shows an agent striking him while three agents tackled him as he pleaded for an ambulance, stating he had recently undergone heart surgery and couldn't breathe. One agent pressed a knee on his neck while applying additional physical force. The incident resulted in broken ribs, an injured elbow, and post-concussive symptoms of a traumatic brain injury. Shouhed was taken to the Metropolitan Detention Center and held for 12 hours without medical attention before being released without charges. He filed a $50 million civil rights lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A 33-year-old man from Ecuador was arrested by ICE agents on February 14 outside his home on Lombard Street in Fair Haven, Connecticut, less than two hours before he was scheduled to appear in state court. According to ICE, the man was arrested on an immigration warrant. The arrest occurred as masked federal agents surrounded his car, smashed the passenger-side window, and handcuffed him. At the time of his arrest, the man had an upcoming court hearing on charges related to child exploitation, and his case was rescheduled to March 10.

John Doe 5, who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in his country of origin, had stable mental health while living with family before detention. After being detained at North Lake Processing Center, his mental health sharply declined—a change noted even by the immigration judge assigned to his case. By December 2025, eight months into his detention, he became non-verbal and unresponsive to his surroundings. He was subsequently moved to a dedicated medical facility for additional care, confirming that North Lake was not equipped to handle his needs.

Jane Doe, who has had high blood pressure for 10 years, experienced a medical emergency consistent with a hypertensive crisis after being denied her prescribed blood pressure medication at North Lake Processing Center. When she signaled distress to staff, they mocked her by making hand gestures rather than providing aid. Her blood pressure reached 229/134, well beyond the threshold of a hypertensive emergency, and she was transported to the hospital in shackles. The ACLU of Michigan and Michigan Immigrant Rights Center documented her case as part of a broader investigation into dangerous medical neglect at the facility.

Z.M.A.V. and K.S.R.A., two individuals identified by A-numbers 208-272-491 and 208-272-492, were detained by immigration authorities on May 20, 2026. They had previously been released on an Order of Supervision. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted their habeas corpus petition and ordered their immediate release back to the same supervisory conditions that were in effect prior to their detention.

A teenager's father was arrested by ICE. The mother, who works as a cleaner and does not drive, now bears sole financial responsibility for the household, including $2,500 monthly rent, utilities, and legal fees. The family launched a fundraiser to help cover expenses.

Karla Soriano's husband was arrested and deported to Honduras five months prior to the article publication. Left to support two sons alone, Soriano has struggled to find stable employment—one employer threatened to call ICE when she asked to be paid. She is considering self-deporting to avoid potential detention, fearing she could be held in a detention center for five to six months.

Yanquiel Lima came to the U.S. from Cuba in 2023 under a humanitarian visa program that Trump ended in 2024. He was arrested shortly after the program's termination and denied a bond hearing under ICE's mandatory detention policy. He spent 10 months at Pearsall detention facility in a room with 64 other detainees sharing two toilets and three showers. He reported being served spoiled food and hearing racist comments from guards. He was placed in solitary confinement for six days after complaining about conditions.

Alvaro Barrera Leon, a Cuban national, was detained by ICE on November 13, 2025, after appearing for a scheduled check-in appointment despite having complied with all supervision requirements and having no criminal history. The petitioner filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention under the Due Process Clause. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted the writ of habeas corpus, finding the petitioner's detention violated constitutional protections.

ICE agents stopped a blue sedan in the area of 11th Street and Jackson Street in North Chicago on Wednesday morning around 8:20 a.m. and detained the driver while a child was present in the vehicle. The detention was part of continued ICE enforcement activity across the Lake County area, with agents also conducting operations in Waukegan on the same day.

Sarath Lon, a Cambodian national, was arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted for murder in Fall River, Massachusetts. Ramos Ortiz-Lopez, a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted for two felony counts of rape of a child in Washington County, Washington. Raul Retana-Ramos, a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted for trafficking 400 grams or more of cocaine by possession and transport in Guilford County, North Carolina. Nazarjon Gayratjonovich Abdukahorov, an Uzbek national, was arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted for lure/entice child by various means in Essex County, New Jersey, and is a registered sex offender under Megan's Law. Daniel Leal, a Mexican national, was arrested by ICE. He was previously convicted for attempted robbery causing physical injury in Jamaica, New York.

A woman identified as a parent was detained by federal agents just outside a North Hollywood elementary school immediately after dropping off her children on Wednesday morning. Witnesses recorded the detention in tactical gear near campus, and the incident sparked concern among parents about law enforcement activity near schools. No federal agency officially identified itself or stated a reason for the detention as of the latest reports.