HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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⚐ Highlighted incident #6901 (not on this page in normal date order)Clear

Wife detained by ICE, family self-deports to Venezuela to reunite

Feb 1, 2026Detroit, MI

Osmary Garcia, who entered the U.S. legally through the CBP One app during the Biden administration, was arrested by immigration officers in February 2026 and detained at North Lake Processing Center in Michigan. After the Trump administration revoked legal status for CBP One entrants and terminated the asylum program under which the family had been admitted, her husband Hector Marin and their six children decided to self-deport to Venezuela to reunite with her. With help from a Detroit Public Schools staff member, the family arranged their voluntary departure and travel in April 2026.

Haitian father detained by ICE in front of teen daughter after TPS ends

Aug 9, 2026Salisbury, MDHaiti

A Haitian father was detained by ICE in Salisbury, Maryland, while driving home from the grocery store with his 17-year-old daughter, Maggie. Vehicles surrounded their car and forced them to pull over, and roughly half a dozen agents demanded their immigration status; officers told Maggie they would not take her because she is a minor, and her father told her he loved her and to take care of herself before being led away. The family had Temporary Protected Status and had applied for asylum after fleeing Haiti in 2021, when gang members burned down their home. His detention comes after more than 350,000 Haitians nationwide lost TPS, and community members in Maryland report growing fear of leaving their homes for work, church, or errands.

U.S. citizen handcuffed at Atlanta airport after ICE mistook him for British national

Aug 9, 2026Atlanta, GA

John Phillips, a U.S. citizen, was handcuffed and detained by ICE agents at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while attempting to board a Delta flight to Las Vegas on August 9, 2026. ICE agents mistook Phillips for a British national who shared the same name and birthdate. According to reports, Delta employees directed Phillips to board last citing technical issues, and ICE agents then stopped and pinned him against a jet bridge before handcuffing him. Agents held Phillips for approximately five minutes, using facial recognition to access his phone before confirming his identity and releasing him. Phillips was subsequently able to board his flight. Phillips is seeking clarification about Delta's role in the incident, including whether the airline cooperated with ICE and what information Delta may have provided. DHS acknowledged the case and stated the agency takes responsibility for protecting the public and conducting operations professionally and lawfully.

373 car wash workers detained in ICE raids across Southern California, families separated

Aug 9, 2026Los Angeles, CA

Federal immigration agents conducted sweeps at more than 106 car washes across Southern California, including Los Angeles, Orange County, Inglewood, Culver City, Westchester, Bell, and Whittier, detaining at least 373 workers. Officers in masks and bulletproof vests arrived in pickup trucks and removed workers from their jobs within minutes. The enforcement operation targeted car washes as part of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration crackdown in the region. According to the CLEAN Carwash Worker Center, family members have been deported or remain in detention, and many workers live with ongoing fear of apprehension. The raids prompted protests against the enforcement operations.

Car wash worker with U.S. citizen wife detained, loses job after business closure

Aug 9, 2026Los Angeles, CA

José, a car wash worker at La Cienega Car Wash in Los Angeles, was detained by ICE agents in August 2025. José's wife is a U.S. citizen, and he had a pathway to citizenship before his detention. After a federal judge ordered his release on bond, the car wash had shut down, leaving José without employment. Rev. Andy Schwiebert of Immanuel Presbyterian Church noted that the enforcement operation destabilized families, congregations, workplaces, and entire communities across the region.

Car wash worker Mario detained two months in ICE facility, fights deportation after release

Aug 9, 2026Santa Ana, CA

Mario, a 33-year resident of the United States, was arrested by ICE agents during a shift at a Santa Ana car wash in August 2025 and held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center for two months. During detention, he slept on cold floors without blankets, toothbrushes, or basic medical care. His wife Alejandra reported agents treated him "worse than a common criminal, with chains binding his legs, arms and waist." Mario refused to sign deportation papers and is fighting to remain in the United States, a process that has drained his family emotionally and financially. He was one of seven workers detained that day but the only one released. At least 373 car wash workers have been detained across Southern California since raids began in summer 2025. Mario said the experience left him traumatized, noting his life is no longer the same.

Nigerians deported on 30-hour flight shackled and manacled across Africa

Aug 9, 2026Nigeria

A group of Nigerian citizens and other African and foreign nationals were deported from the United States on a 30-hour ICE deportation flight in which detainees were shackled and manacled. According to human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe, the flight departed from Alvarado outside Dallas, Texas, and routed through Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, and Ghana, dropping detainees in multiple countries. Some Nigerian citizens were among those dropped in Ghana, where they faced additional hardship. Ogebe called on Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the United States to ensure the dignified repatriation of Nigerian citizens facing deportation, noting that some detainees had not committed criminal offenses and were being deported to third countries.

Four individuals detained by ICE at Sikeston Bootheel Rodeo

Aug 9, 2026Sikeston, MO

Four individuals were detained by ICE personnel at the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo during the weekend. The detentions occurred when attendees presented international identification at age-verification checkpoints for alcohol purchases. During verification of the identification documents, issues regarding immigration status were raised, prompting ICE agents already present at the rodeo to respond and detain the individuals. Law enforcement checks indicated all four had existing immigration-related matters in federal systems.

Venezuelan school custodian detained by ICE while driving to work, union demands release

Aug 9, 2026St. Johns County, FLVenezuela

Leonel Armando Bolívar Linares, a 29-year-old Venezuelan custodian at a St. Johns County school, was detained by ICE agents on August 5, 2026, while driving to work after a traffic stop. Bolívar Linares holds a valid work permit and driver's license, has a pending asylum application, and is legally present in the country. He has no criminal record and holds a university degree in journalism. His mother, Dayana Linares, and other family members who also work at the school expressed concern about the manner of his arrest and fear of deportation, noting that returning to Venezuela would pose a risk to his safety. His union, the St. Johns Educational Support Professionals Association, backed him and demanded his release. His family is raising funds to cover immigration bond, attorney's fees, and legal expenses.

Argentine soccer player detained by ICE at Florida airport during domestic travel despite valid work permit

Aug 9, 2026Fort Lauderdale, FLArgentina

Matías Alejandro Pourrain, a 34-year-old Argentine midfielder, was detained by ICE agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on August 6, 2026, while preparing to board a domestic flight to Los Angeles for a national championship final match. Pourrain arrived in the U.S. in November 2019 on a tourist visa and has lived in the country for seven years. At the time of detention, he held a valid work permit and Social Security number, had a pending asylum application, and maintained a Florida state ID with no criminal record. He also works as a youth coach for his team. According to his attorney, Pourrain was awaiting an asylum appointment. Both Miami United FC and Club de Lyon FC issued statements supporting him, with the teams describing him as an exceptional player and beloved member of their organizations. Pourrain declined voluntary departure and requested an immigration bond. He was transferred to an ICE processing center in Miramar, Florida.

Two roof repairmen arrested in Cornwall, Vermont ICE operation

Aug 8, 2026Cornwall, VT

ICE agents arrested two roof repairmen during a raid in Cornwall, Vermont on Aug. 8, according to Will Lambek of the immigrant advocacy group Migrant Justice. The Addison County Sheriff's Department did not respond to requests for comment on the arrests. The incident was part of a wave of workplace and commuting arrests across Vermont that advocates said was unusually large in scale.

Detainees report TB outbreak, overcrowding at Louisiana ICE facility

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Aug 8, 2026Louisiana

A leaked video filmed by a detainee inside the River Center ICE Detention Center in Louisiana shows 76 people held together in a single crowded space. Detainees allege exposure to outbreaks of tuberculosis, flu, and conjunctivitis, and say sick people are being placed in punitive isolation cells instead of receiving medical care. The detainee who filmed the footage asked media outlets for help publicizing the conditions.

Lyft driver detained by ICE after criminal charge dismissed, separated from family

Aug 8, 2026Wake County, NCTurkmenistan

Shohrat Saparov, a devoted husband and father of two from the Turkmen community, was arrested on May 29, 2026, after accepting a Lyft pickup request for a package he believed to be legal. He was wrongfully charged in a scam orchestrated by others, but on August 7, 2026, the Wake County prosecutor dismissed the charge entirely, finding him an "unwitting mule without guilty knowledge." The next morning, ICE took him into custody. Saparov is a recently certified Network Engineer who has volunteered with the Divan Center supporting families in need, and his family is now seeking $20,000 to fund his immigration defense and secure his release.

Father of 26 years detained by ICE during work; community raises $50,000 for legal support

Aug 8, 2026South Orange, NJCosta Rica

Tonny Quesada-Ramirez, a Costa Rican national who has lived in the United States for approximately 26 years, was detained by ICE agents on August 7, 2026, while working on a home addition project one block from his residence in the South Orange-Maplewood area. He lives with his wife and two children, one of whom has Down's syndrome. Quesada-Ramirez had begun the green card application process when he was detained and is being held at Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark pending removal proceedings. At least four other people, including Omar Alvarez (a sous chef) and two men who work at a roofing company, were detained in the area during the same enforcement activity. A neighbor who had hired Quesada-Ramirez for various carpentry jobs over five years started a GoFundMe that surpassed $36,000, and community members raised over $50,000 total through documenting the enforcement activity, connecting families with resources and attorneys, and fundraising efforts.

Asylum seeker detained in inhumane border conditions at 11, now thriving in Southold community

Aug 8, 2026El Paso, TXMexico

Daniel Palencia arrived in the United States in 2016 at age 11 with his mother, crossing the Mexico-U.S. border at El Paso, Texas, where they turned themselves in to immigration authorities and sought legal status. He was detained for three months in deplorable conditions, including cold rooms where temperatures dropped at night and blankets were confiscated, and overcrowded holding areas he described as "cages" designed for 4-5 people but sometimes holding 40 individuals where "we were sleeping on top of each other." After being transferred to JK Airport in New York for additional detention, his family hired a lawyer and obtained asylum status. Palencia moved to Southold to live with his grandparents, attended local schools, and has worked for Marcello Masonry for two years. Reflecting on his experience and that of detained coworker Hugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, he stated: "There are bad people out there. But you can't arrest everybody for the way they look or if they speak Spanish. You can't arrest hard-working people who are trying to support their families."

Man deported by ICE to Tijuana dies during armed robbery months later

Aug 8, 2026Tijuana, MexicoMexico

A man was deported by ICE to Tijuana in January 2024 and died during an armed robbery when gunmen shot him in the heart, according to his family. His daughter, Evelyn González, a resident of Oceanside, California, remembered him as a strong man who always fought for his family and taught her to be independent. His family is seeking help to transport his body to his hometown in Mexico for a dignified farewell.

18-year-old U.S. citizen detained by ICE despite showing proof of citizenship

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Aug 8, 2026Norfolk, VA

An 18-year-old U.S. citizen in Norfolk was detained by ICE agents on Friday morning after arriving at the scene of an immigration enforcement operation involving her husband. According to the woman, she informed agents she was a U.S. citizen, but was detained anyway.

Guatemalan landscaper detained, son Army specialist struggles with guilt over border patrol deployment

Aug 8, 2026Guatemala

Sebastian Ralios Tino, a Guatemalan landscaper with no known criminal record, was detained in summer 2025 after living in the U.S. for nearly two decades without legal status. His son, U.S. Army Specialist Romero Ralios, enlisted in the military and spent nine months in 2024 deployed to the Joint Task Force Southern Border supporting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The detention has left Romero Ralios remorseful about his border enforcement work and unable to sleep, expressing regret over the families he helped separate during his deployment. His commanding officer, Capt. Mohamed Elmaola, told the AP that Ralios is a phenomenal soldier deserving of support for his family.

Detainee documents cockroach in Adelanto ICE cell, reports inhumane conditions

Aug 8, 2026Adelanto, CA

Juan Carlos Maspache, a detainee at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California, documented evidence of a cockroach found in his detention cell and shared the video with L.A. TACO. His documentation is part of mounting claims from detainees about inhumane conditions at the facility.

Pastor Gabriel Johnson suffers stroke in ICE custody, family denied contact and updates

Aug 8, 2026TX

Gabriel Johnson, a 55-year-old pastor from North Carolina who came to the U.S. as a teenager, suffered a stroke while in ICE custody after more than 16 days in detention facilities in Georgia and Texas. According to his family, he repeatedly requested medical care during his detention, claiming he was denied adequate food, water, prescribed medication, and medical attention. Johnson has withholding of removal status, which bars him from being deported to Liberia. After experiencing stroke-like symptoms, he was taken to a hospital in Texas, but ICE has not provided his family with information about his medical care or condition since his hospitalization. The family has filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General.

Omar, Perla sous chef, detained by ICE on way to work in NYC

Aug 7, 2026New York, NYPeru

Omar, a Peruvian sous chef at the restaurant Perla in New York City, was detained by ICE agents on the morning of Friday, August 7, while on his way to work. According to his employer, Omar has been following the lawful path to citizenship, was recently awarded a social security number, pays taxes, and works every day. His employer describes him as a hardworking, dedicated, and morally-just person who has played a significant role in shaping the restaurant over nearly two years of employment and serves as a mentor to the employer's sons. Omar is currently detained at Delaney Hall.

Katerina detained at airport, legal fund launched for habeas corpus petition

Aug 7, 2026Honolulu, HI

Katerina was recently detained by immigration authorities at an airport and is currently held in immigration detention. Her supporters are raising funds for emergency federal legal representation to file a habeas corpus petition and temporary restraining order in federal court challenging the legality of her detention and seeking her release.

Haitian man with pending asylum case arrested at home, gun pointed at wife

Aug 7, 2026White River Junction, VTHaiti

A Haitian man who had entered a national parole program in Manchester before relocating to White River Junction in 2025 was arrested by ICE agents at his door at 7 a.m. on Aug. 7, according to Yvonne Lodico of Grace Initiative Global. The man had employment authorization and an asylum application under review, and was moved between detention locations before arriving in New Hampshire. His wife, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, said that when she followed and asked ICE agents where they were taking her husband, an agent pulled out a gun and pointed it at her while she sat in her car.

ICE arrests at least 9 people across Vermont in three separate operations

Aug 7, 2026VermontHaiti

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested at least nine people across Vermont over a weekend in August 2026, including five construction workers arrested in Londonderry, one person in White River Junction, and two roof repairmen in a raid in Cornwall. A Haitian man with employment authorization and an asylum application under review was arrested at his home in White River Junction after ICE agents arrived at 7 a.m.; his wife reported that an ICE agent pointed a gun at her while she was in her car when she asked where they were taking him. The arrests, described by immigration advocates as rare workplace and commuting operations involving groups of workers, occurred amid months of heightened federal enforcement across the state and raised concerns about potential racial profiling and lack of oversight.

Venezuelan pastor detained by ICE at Houston airport while traveling with wife

Aug 7, 2026Houston, TXVenezuela

Pastor Luis Morales Pérez, a Venezuelan Seventh-day Adventist pastor who oversees four congregations in the Houston area and is a father of two daughters, was detained by ICE agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport while traveling with his wife, Karina, for a vacation to New York. According to Karina, agents approached the couple shortly after they entered the airport, called Morales by name, and took him into custody. Morales held valid employment authorization to serve with the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and had a pending asylum claim. His Temporary Protected Status, granted in December 2023, was revoked after DHS ended TPS for Venezuelan nationals, a move the Supreme Court allowed to take effect; ICE said he remained in the country after the revocation took effect on November 20, 2025. He is being held at Livingston Detention Center. Church leaders described his "commitment to our mission and the families he serves" as "unwavering" and asked congregants to pray for his family.

ICE concludes Operation Safe Community-Atlanta with 1,226 arrests across Georgia

Aug 7, 2026GA

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement concluded Operation Safe Community-Atlanta on August 7, 2026, with 1,226 arrests across Georgia in one of the largest single-state immigration enforcement operations in recent memory. According to ICE, 720 of those arrested had been charged with or convicted of crimes in the United States, including sex crimes, crimes against children, assault, drug violations, burglary, weapons offenses, and impaired driving. All 1,226 people arrested violated U.S. immigration law. The operation was conducted across multiple Georgia jurisdictions with participation from federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, including five arrests at a local trucking company. The operation occurred during a period of increased ICE enforcement, as the agency set a new monthly record high for detentions in July with more than 46,000 arrests nationwide.

Argentine footballer detained by ICE at Miami airport, held pending bail hearing

Aug 7, 2026Miami, FLArgentina

Matías Pourrain, a 34-year-old Argentine footballer who has lived in the U.S. since 2019, was detained by ICE agents before a flight to Los Angeles. He entered on a tourist visa and filed a residency application that was never formally denied. Pourrain was playing for Miami United FC, which released a statement expressing shock and pledging full support for him and his family. His lawyer Regina Borges confirmed he qualifies for bail and is preparing a motion for a bail hearing; he is being transferred to Krome Detention Center in Florida and expected to remain in custody for at least another week.

Pregnant South African woman detained by ICE at Las Vegas airport, fiancé says arrest unexpected

Aug 7, 2026Las Vegas, NVSouth Africa

Nqobile Malangeni, a pregnant South African woman who lives in Connecticut with her fiancé, a U.S. Army veteran, was arrested by ICE agents at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas as she prepared to board a JetBlue flight home. She had traveled to Las Vegas for a vacation to celebrate her birthday. In footage of the arrest shared across U.S. media, agents told her they had a final order of removal against her for overstaying her authorized period of stay. Her fiancé told reporters they followed all proper procedures and never received a removal letter in the mail, describing the arrest as completely unexpected. She is being held at the Henderson Detention Center in Nevada.

Five construction workers arrested in Londonderry traffic stop during ICE enforcement operation

Aug 7, 2026Londonderry, VTEcuador

Five individuals working on a construction crew were arrested by ICE agents during a targeted enforcement operation at a traffic stop in Londonderry on the morning of August 7, 2026, while traveling to a job site. The detainees were allegedly of Ecuadorian descent. Video footage captured by a local resident showed unmarked vehicles and multiple individuals being held against a vehicle near Route 11. The arrests occurred amid months of heightened immigration enforcement activity in Vermont that has drawn protests, lawsuits, and official reviews, including scrutiny of a March 11 raid in South Burlington that detained three people who were later released. The incident sparked community concern, prompting state representatives and local leaders to convene to discuss support and protection measures.

Chef Luis detained by ICE during immigration hearing, family launches fundraiser

Aug 7, 2026

Luis (Kike) Espinoza, an Executive Chef who has lived legally in the United States since 2022 with a valid work permit, was detained by ICE during what was supposed to be a routine monthly immigration court hearing in Texas. Espinoza, who formerly worked as head chef at El Secreto de Rosita restaurant, moved to Texas to build a life and support his two children in Peru. His sister, Cinthia Espinoza, who works as a chef at Nabiha restaurant, is organizing a GoFundMe campaign to help cover legal costs as the family works with an attorney to seek his release. The community has described Espinoza as a beloved member who has given much to the people around him.

Zambian nurse detained at Boston airport, released after union and community protests

Aug 7, 2026Boston, MAZambia

Debora Kapisha, a registered nurse from Zambia working at Maine Medical Center in Portland, was detained by ICE on July 30 at Boston Logan Airport after her visa expired in November 2024. According to ICE, she entered the U.S. on May 14, 2024, and remained in the country after her visa expiration. Kapisha maintained a valid registered nurse license since June 2025 with no disciplinary action and argued she had legal work authorization while her asylum case was being adjudicated. The Maine State Nurses Association organized a rally within 24 hours of learning of her detention and mobilized community support, with over 100 Maine Medical Center nurses and supporters protesting alongside Democratic officials including Senate nominee Troy Jackson and gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree, describing her as a trusted, compassionate caregiver whose absence affected patient care. She was released from ICE custody on August 7 following the protests. The union and MaineHealth are working to sponsor her for permanent resident status through an EB-3 visa, for which skilled nurses are eligible and exempt from standard labor certification requirements.

Two men detained after officers in ICE garb smash vehicle windows at Marshall gas station

Aug 7, 2026Marshall, VA

Two men were detained after officers in ICE garb arrived in six vehicles at a gas station in Marshall on Tuesday morning, boxed in their vehicle at a gas pump, and smashed the windows before taking them into custody. Bystanders witnessed the enforcement action.

Brazilian Man Detained by ICE in Taunton, Massachusetts After Prior Deportation

Aug 6, 2026Taunton, MABrazil

ICE arrested Heriton Da Silva Aredes, a Brazilian national who had previously been deported in 2008 and later reentered the U.S., during a targeted operation in Taunton, Massachusetts. ICE stated he had prior convictions and was facing a pending charge of negligent vehicular homicide. ICE said local and state authorities released Aredes from custody on three occasions without honoring ICE detainers before he was ultimately arrested at large.

Venezuelan pastor detained by ICE at Houston airport while traveling with wife

Aug 6, 2026Houston, TXVenezuela

Luis Morales, a Venezuelan pastor who leads four Adventist churches in the Houston area, was detained by ICE agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Aug. 6 while preparing to fly to New York with his wife to visit their daughters. Morales came to the U.S. with his wife, Karina, and their two daughters in 2020 and the family has lived in Houston since 2023. His wife says his Temporary Protected Status was revoked in November 2025, but the family's asylum case remains pending, and they had not received any deportation orders. Morales remains held at an ICE detention center in Livingston, Texas, while his family awaits answers.

Content creator's husband detained by ICE despite wife's citizenship claim

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Aug 6, 2026Mexico

Ángel Muñeco (Ángel Muñoz), a content creator who went viral after proposing to his wife Blondi, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on August 6. Blondi, known online for her height, confirmed the detention and said her husband is legally in the United States and that their marriage is valid. He is now facing an administrative process that could result in deportation, and his future remains uncertain.

Coral Gables woman admits faking ICE title to derail deportation cases

Aug 6, 2026Miami, FL

Ana Caridad Linares, a 45-year-old woman from Coral Gables, admitted in federal court to falsely impersonating a federal officer by inventing a non-existent "Legal Administrative Specialist" position within ICE and using that fake title to file fraudulent motions with immigration courts requesting dismissal of deportation cases. She collected fees from clients before submitting documents formatted to appear as authentic government filings. The scheme was discovered in February 2024 when an immigration judge flagged one of her motions as fraudulent, leading investigators to trace at least three more similar motions filed during the same period. Linares faces up to three years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for August 20, 2026.

Venezuelan young woman seeks to free parents and brother detained by ICE in Texas

Aug 6, 2026Eagle Pass, TXVenezuela

Valeria Saya, a Venezuelan resident of Eagle Pass, Texas, is seeking help to free her father Ronaldo, mother Odalys, and younger brother Ronaldo Jr., who were all detained by ICE within days of each other. Her father was detained at a checkpoint while driving a truck and presented his documents; the family has work permits and Social Security numbers. Her mother and brother were later detained while returning from Laredo to Eagle Pass. Her brother, who is about to graduate high school and wants to be an engineer, has struggled emotionally in detention at Dilley, losing interest in eating and sleeping most of the day. According to Valeria's attorney, the family has strong prospects for release as both parents have no criminal history.

11-year-old boy Diego faces deportation alone in immigration court without lawyer

Aug 6, 2026New York, NYGuatemala

An 11-year-old unaccompanied migrant named Diego appeared alone before an immigration judge in New York City without legal representation, struggling to complete an asylum application in English. The hearing occurred after a federal contract funding legal services for detained immigrant children expired on July 31, leaving thousands of minors to represent themselves. Judge Lisa Ling, a former ICE prosecutor, gave Diego two and a half weeks to file his asylum application or face deportation, despite his expressed fear of returning to Guatemala. Multiple other unaccompanied children, some as young as 11, appeared in court that day without lawyers or adult advocates.

Honduran man deported by ICE to Central Africa without notice or consent

Aug 6, 2026Bangui, Central African RepublicHonduras

Brayan Sánchez, a Honduran citizen who worked as a truck driver and owned a pressure-washing and painting business, was detained by ICE on May 13 in Florida and transferred through detention centers in Colorado, Arizona, California, and Texas. On July 30, he and four Cuban detainees and one Ecuadorian detainee discovered they would be deported to the Central African Republic without being informed of the destination beforehand. Sánchez reported that ICE officials threatened the group, saying "Tomorrow you're going to get on the flight and if you don't get on the plane, we're going to beat you." He stated he was told the process was forced, not voluntary, and that he would have chosen El Salvador or Mexico instead. Sánchez asserts he had a court order preventing his deportation and believes the procedure violated his rights. He claims he cannot return to Honduras due to threats he received following the deaths of his father and other family members.

Ethiopian asylum holder repeatedly detained despite judge's orders, contempt ruling pending

Aug 6, 2026Baton Rouge, LAEthiopia

Ibrahim Mohammed, a 43-year-old Ethiopian national who legally entered the U.S. in 2014 and was granted asylum, was ordered deported following a child sexual abuse conviction. Federal officials attempted to deport him to third countries (Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, and Central African Republic) rather than his country of origin. U.S. District Judge John W. deGravelles ordered Mohammed released from Angola's Camp 57 immigration detention facility in February after finding ICE had no viable deportation plan and violated his due process rights. Despite the judge's explicit warnings and orders, ICE agents rearrested Mohammed twice more in subsequent months—in April after two African nations agreed to accept him, and again last week in Maryland—each time failing to serve required deportation papers or conduct credible fear interviews. Judge deGravelles held a hearing on whether to hold DHS officials in civil contempt for repeatedly defying his court orders.

Mohamed Guezoui detained at workplace, deported under Operation Country Roads

Aug 6, 2026West VirginiaAlgeria

Mohamed Guezoui, born in Algeria, moved to the U.S. after marrying an American citizen. After his marriage ended, he found community through his friend Staci Tighe, whom he met at karaoke. Tighe was struggling through an illness at the time, and Guezoui visited her daily to offer support before his arrest. While working his shift at King Kabab restaurant in West Virginia, three masked ICE officers arrested him at his workplace. He was eventually deported. His detention marked the beginning of Operation Country Roads, a DHS enforcement sweep that resulted in approximately 600 arrests across West Virginia, primarily relying on local law enforcement cooperation.

Pregnant 21-year-old detained 40+ days without prenatal care for high-risk pregnancy

Aug 6, 2026Dilley, TX

Laura Rojas Ortiz, a 21-year-old mother, was detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas for more than 40 days while five months pregnant with a high-risk pregnancy. She was detained during a routine ICE check-in in Dallas while in the process of applying for a U visa after being shot at in her neighborhood, despite regularly appearing for check-ins while wearing an ankle monitor. During her detention, Rojas Ortiz did not receive an ultrasound, specialist care, or blood tests despite her high-risk pregnancy status. Her mother, Paola, reported that her infant son, who has a lactose intolerance, was given whole milk at the facility. According to family accounts, facility staff moved her to a medical room during a congressional visit, then removed her when lawmakers left. Advocacy groups including Each Step Home provided commissary support to help her purchase food for her children.

Colombian DJ and husband detained by ICE at Chicago airport, later released on bond

Aug 6, 2026Chicago, ILColombia

Omar David Panqueva, a Colombian DJ known as DJ Tunjo, and his husband Santiago Páez were arrested by ICE agents at Chicago's Midway International Airport as they prepared to fly out and join reggaeton star Karol G's tour for DJ after-parties. The couple, both members of the LGBTQ+ community, had applied for asylum due to persecution they faced in Colombia and held work permits while their case was pending, though their visas had expired in 2022. Panqueva had recently performed at Chicago's Fiesta del Sol and the Sueños music festival and was planning a tour to Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. He described being 'chained, handcuffed on a bus with bars' during the arrest. The couple was held in Indiana and released on bond on August 12 after supporters rallied around them, with their immigration case continuing in court and a hearing scheduled for August 19.

Four construction workers detained in traffic stop outside Austin City Hall, sparking city council outrage

Aug 6, 2026Austin, TX

Four construction workers were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, August 6, 2026, following a traffic stop conducted by Texas Department of Public Safety troopers outside Austin City Hall. DPS troopers, who are federally certified Designated Immigration Officers under the 287(g) program, pulled over a vehicle at Guadalupe Street and César Chávez Street after observing it driving the wrong way on a one-way street just before 9:30 a.m. The driver did not have a valid driver's license. After determining that all four occupants were not lawfully present in the United States, troopers contacted ICE agents, who arrived within three to four minutes and took the individuals into custody, confiscating their phones. The detention occurred while the Austin City Council was holding a budget meeting, and community members expressed outrage during public comment. By Thursday evening, family members did not know where the detainees had been taken. City Council members, including Mike Siegel, condemned the operation, with Siegel characterizing it as "state-sponsored kidnapping" and criticizing the collaboration between DPS and ICE.

DACA recipient and father of three pulled from car by masked ICE agents in Seattle

Aug 5, 2026Seattle, WA

Alberto, a DACA recipient who has lived in the U.S. since 1996, worked as a painter, contractor, and Amazon delivery driver, and is a father of three, was pulled from his vehicle by masked ICE agents while making deliveries in Seattle's Wedgwood neighborhood on August 5. Five of the six agents present were masked; one reached into his car, unlocked the door, and physically removed him before placing him in an unmarked truck. In footage of the roughly 20-minute encounter, Alberto identified himself as a DACA recipient and gave observers his name, Social Security number, and the location of his car keys for his family. Neighbors and local business owners gathered to witness and record the arrest, later organizing a vigil at the site and staying in contact with Alberto's family and immigration attorneys.

Black DoorDash driver arrested by ICE agents on Jersey City street without warrant

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Aug 5, 2026Jersey City, NJ

A Black DoorDash delivery driver was arrested by masked ICE agents on a Jersey City street while working. According to the post, the agents did not provide a warrant or demonstrate they had legal reason to detain him. The arrest occurred days after another person died in ICE custody at Delaney Hall in Newark.

Three LGBTQ+ women fleeing Ghana persecution deported to Cameroon in secret Trump deal

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Aug 5, 2026Ghana

Three women who fled LGBTQ+ persecution in Ghana were deported from the United States to Cameroon as part of the Trump administration's secretive agreements with at least 30 countries to accept people the U.S. cannot legally deport to their home countries. According to DW reporting, the deportees described being shackled during the process.

Honduran man with SIJS deported, returned to U.S. by court order, detained in Texas

Aug 5, 2026Harlingen, TXHonduras

José Eliezer Martinez-Andino, a 20-year-old Honduran man, was deported to Honduras in April 2026 after being detained while traveling to Seattle, despite holding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) granted in 2023. He had been living in Raleigh with relatives and is the father of a three-year-old U.S.-born child. In June 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordered DHS to return him to the U.S. and restore his legal status. Martinez-Andino returned on August 5, 2026, but was flown to a detention facility in Harlingen, Texas rather than North Carolina, where he remains detained awaiting legal relief.

Pregnant woman arrested by ICE at Las Vegas airport after returning from vacation

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Aug 5, 2026Las Vegas, NV

A pregnant woman was arrested by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in late July after returning to the United States from a vacation in Las Vegas. She was detained on immigration charges related to allegedly overstaying her visa. Her fiancé expressed concern about whether he will be able to meet his child.

Afghan, Ukrainian, and Saudi detainees force-fed in ICE custody; torture allegations emerge

Aug 5, 2026TexasAfghanistan

The Guardian's investigation reveals at least 10 cases since January 2025 in which ICE subjected detained immigrants to involuntary force-feeding through nasogastric tubes. Three cases are detailed: an Afghan man force-fed daily for nearly six months at Port Isabel in Texas starting September 2025; Andriy Shepitsen, a Ukrainian man with severe bipolar disorder, whose attorney intervened to stop his force-feeding at Krome Service processing center in Miami after 44 days on hunger strike; and a Saudi Arabian woman who went on hunger strike in Louisiana in June 2025 and was transferred to Texas, where ICE sought permission to force-feed her before she broke her strike. Medical experts and human rights organizations have condemned force-feeding as torture. In six of the 10 cases reviewed, detained immigrants lacked legal representation during court proceedings, and most records remain sealed.

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