HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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Green card holder Maher Awad deported on private jet to West Bank, leaving newborn son in Michigan

Feb 5, 2026Phoenix, AZPalestine

ICE chartered a private Gulfstream IV jet owned by Florida property developer Gil Dezer, a Trump associate and donor, to deport Palestinian men from the United States to the West Bank. At least two deportation flights occurred on January 20-21 and February 1-2, 2026, transporting eight or more detainees from an Arizona detention facility through multiple countries (New Jersey, Ireland, Bulgaria) before reaching Tel Aviv and the West Bank. Among those deported was 24-year-old Maher Awad, a long-term green card holder who had lived in the U.S. for nearly a decade and had a newborn son in Michigan. The men were shackled throughout the multi-country journey and reported being abandoned at checkpoints with minimal resources. A joint investigation by +972 Magazine and The Guardian documented the flights, with former U.S. officials and immigration lawyers characterizing them as indicative of a shift in Trump administration deportation policy toward more aggressive mass deportation tactics.

Egyptian Coptic Christian detained by ICE during routine check-in

Jul 1, 2026TennesseeEgypt

Said Tawadros Wahba Tawadros, an Egyptian citizen and practicing Coptic Orthodox Christian who has resided in the United States since August 2023, was taken into ICE custody on July 1, 2026, during a routine ICE check-in. He was detained at the West Tennessee Detention Facility without an individualized determination regarding the necessity of continued confinement. The court stayed his transfer and required ICE to respond to his habeas petition, noting that under Lopez-Campos v. Raycraft, noncitizens who have spent significant time in the United States interior and have not committed disqualifying offenses may not be detained without an individualized bond hearing. Eshak Mamdouh Taki Ghaly, an Egyptian citizen and Coptic Orthodox Christian who fled religious persecution, was detained by ICE on July 1, 2026, at the West Tennessee Detention Facility. Ghaly had resided in the United States continuously since July 2023, maintained steady employment in Nashville, attended all required ICE check-ins, and had no criminal history. He filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention without an individualized bond hearing. The court issued an order staying his transfer and requiring the government to respond within two business days, with instructions to either distinguish the case from Lopez-Campos v. Raycraft or consent to release.

Asylum seeker detained after ICE revokes release order at check-in

Jul 1, 2026San Francisco, CAMexico

Martha Alicia Hernandez Arroyo, a 52-year-old asylum seeker from Mexico, was detained on July 1, 2026, at an ICE check-in in San Francisco after ICE revoked her Order of Supervision without a hearing. She had been released under supervision after her 1999 removal order was reinstated on March 23, 2026, following a USCIS adjustment of status interview. The court granted her preliminary injunction, prohibiting re-detention without notice and a pre-deprivation hearing before a neutral decisionmaker, finding she had a constitutionally protected liberty interest based on the government's affirmative decision to release her.

Colombian Asylum Seeker Detained by ICE While Making Amazon Deliveries

Jul 1, 2026Mountain Home, IdahoColombia

John Jairo Suarez Rueda, a Colombian national who entered the U.S. without inspection in 2023 and was paroled after indicating credible fear of persecution, was detained by ICE on July 1, 2026, while delivering packages for Amazon with a valid work permit. DHS and EOIR ordered his mandatory detention without bond eligibility under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). On July 10, 2026, the U.S. District Court for Idaho granted his habeas corpus petition and ordered his immediate release, finding that § 1226(a) applies because he was already present in the country and was not subject to the cited detention statutes.

ICE agent fires at Mexican man's car during arrest attempt in Harrisburg

Jul 1, 2026Harrisburg, PAMexico

Clemente Lara-Hernandez, a Mexican citizen, was the subject of an ICE arrest operation in Harrisburg on July 1, 2026. According to ICE, agents attempted a targeted vehicle stop and Lara-Hernandez drove his car into an ICE vehicle, then drove the wrong way on a one-way street and hit a civilian vehicle. An ICE agent fired one shot at his vehicle; Lara-Hernandez fled the scene and remains at large. One ICE agent sustained a hand injury. The FBI is investigating the shooting.

15 people detained during ICE raids in Bloomington-Normal

Jul 1, 2026Bloomington-Normal, IL

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained 15 people during raids in Bloomington-Normal from July 1-3, 2026, according to the Immigration Project. The detainees had entered the United States legally from Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, and Guatemala. Most were apprehended at their workplaces throughout the community. About half were described as long-term residents, while others had recently arrived. Many had been granted humanitarian parole under the Biden administration or had applied for asylum; a few had pending family petitions. One detainee was unaware of a missed immigration court date and was ordered deported in absentia. The raids separated families and caused significant emotional and financial hardship, particularly for families whose primary breadwinner was detained. One detainee was denied a breathing machine while in confinement. The detentions are part of a nationwide ICE enforcement effort that reportedly captured more than 10,000 people during a five-day period.

Pregnant Azerbaijani detainee files federal habeas petition seeking release from ICE custody

Jul 1, 2026FloridaAzerbaijan

Fatima Eminzada, a 24-year-old citizen of Azerbaijan, was detained by ICE on April 4, 2026, and transferred to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana. She is pregnant in her first trimester with medical complications including hypothyroidism, possible UTI, and mild anemia. After bond was denied at a redetermination hearing on May 14, 2026, and an immigration judge denied her renewed motion for bond on June 12, 2026, she filed a federal habeas corpus petition on June 25, 2026, represented by attorneys Logan Joseph Duplessis and Giedre Stasiunaite. On July 1, 2026, the court issued a temporary restraining order and ordered ICE respondents to file a medical-status report addressing her current medical conditions, treatment, and access to medical care, with the deadline extended to July 13, 2026.

Nine individuals arrested by ICE in New Jersey enforcement operations

Jul 1, 2026New Jersey, NJBrazil

Between May 25 and May 30, 2026, ICE arrested nine individuals in New Jersey as part of enforcement operations. The arrests included: Esteban Pastor Montes Navarro (Mexico) on 5/25 with convictions for simple assault and possession of weapon; David Benitiz (Honduras) on 5/26 with convictions for simple assault, obstructing police, and public order crimes; Cesar Augusto Diaz Poveda (Ecuador) on 5/27 with arrests for assault and obstructing police; Jose Manuel Rivera-Mes (Guatemala) on 5/28 with a conviction for voluntary manslaughter and arrests for weapon offenses; Success Bounte (Ghana) on 5/28 with convictions for robbery, burglary, identity theft, and credit card fraud; Ismael Antonio Moreno-Javier (Dominican Republic) on 5/28 with arrests for terroristic threats, assault, child neglect, and fraud; Carlos Javier Llano-Batista (Dominican Republic) on 5/28 with arrests for fraud, larceny, burglary, and robbery; Jacinta Contreras Reyes (Mexico) on 5/29 with arrests for domestic violence, aggravated assault, and weapon-related charges; and Pabline Patricia Da Silva (Brazil) on 5/30 with arrests for burglary, larceny, and property damage. ICE conducted expanded enforcement operations across New Jersey, resulting in the arrests of several individuals. Marvin Miguel Perez, a Guatemalan national, was arrested on July 6 and had prior convictions in Mercer County Superior Court for unlawful possession of a weapon and theft. Jorge Vega-Meza, a Mexican national, was arrested on July 1 and had been previously removed from the United States with prior convictions related to drug distribution and racketeering. Fidel Rodriguez Lemus, a Cuban national, was arrested during the operations after being ordered removed in 2022 and having previously received a federal prison sentence in the Eastern District of Virginia. Kaitlyn Tracey, a Canadian national, was taken into custody by ICE after allegedly assaulting a teenage girl on the Point Pleasant Boardwalk, with the girl allegedly targeted for wearing pro-Trump and ICE clothing.

ICE agent draws gun on mother near school during enforcement operation in Bozeman

Jul 1, 2026Bozeman, MT

On July 1, 2026, Bozeman resident Brandi Straub was driving near Camp Equinox summer theater camp when ICE agents conducting enforcement operations pursued suspects across the street. An ICE agent pointed a gun through Straub's passenger side window as she braked to avoid an enforcement vehicle. Straub's 12-year-old daughter and a neighbor's 11-year-old were attending the camp, located three blocks away with approximately 120 children present. When Straub called 911 to alert authorities to the nearby ICE operation, dispatch informed her that local police could not intervene in ICE operations. The school had not been informed of the enforcement activity taking place in the area.

Bozeman caregiver detained over 24 hours by ICE, fights arrest in federal court

Jul 1, 2026Bozeman, MT

David Cortes-Torres, a 20-year-old man and primary caregiver for his grandmother who is undergoing cancer treatment, was detained by ICE agents in Bozeman on Monday. According to a federal habeas corpus petition filed by Upper Seven Law, agents held him for more than 24 hours at Helena Airport in a small holding room with over 15 other people, pressured him to voluntarily leave the country, and limited his attorney contact to a single three-minute phone call. His lawyers allege the arrest was part of an operation targeting Latinos in the area, and a federal judge ordered him to remain in Montana pending a hearing set for the following Tuesday.

Pakistani detainee held 21 months ordered released by federal court

Jul 1, 2026LAPakistan

A Pakistani national was held in an ICE facility in Louisiana for approximately 21 months without removal. ICE attempted to transfer him to the UAE, which declined, and sought responses from Saudi Arabia, China, Kosovo, and Moldavia without success. A federal court ordered his immediate release, ruling the prolonged detention unconstitutional under Zadvydas v. Davis because removal was not likely in the foreseeable future.

Man held 8 months without bond ordered released after court rejects ICE detention policy

Jul 1, 2026Aurora, CO

Rigoberto Santillan-Quiroz, a long-term U.S. resident married to a legal permanent resident and stepfather to a U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE following a traffic stop in late 2025. He was held for eight months without a bond hearing under a Trump administration policy that categorically denied bond hearings to noncitizens who entered without authorization. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled the detention policy unlawful, finding it violated due process rights by denying individualized review. The court ordered Santillan-Quiroz's release and reinstatement of bond hearing eligibility, reversing a district court decision and reaffirming that noncitizens have had bond hearing rights for nearly 30 years.

Seven more Prairieland protesters sentenced, six who pled guilty receive 2-15 years

Jul 1, 2026Fort Worth, TX

Seven more defendants were sentenced on July 1, 2026, for their roles in the July 4, 2025 protest at the Prairieland ICE Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas. Six who had pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists received sentences ranging from nearly two to 15 years. Ines Soto, who pleaded not guilty but was convicted, was sentenced to 50 years — the same sentence given the previous week to his wife Elizabeth Soto, who was among eight defendants convicted at trial. The six plea-deal defendants received significantly shorter sentences than the eight trial defendants sentenced on June 23, who received 30 to 100 years.

Mother detained by ICE while walking to store, family launches legal defense fundraiser

Jul 1, 2026San Bernardino, CA

A mother was detained by ICE agents on June 29 while walking to a store to buy groceries for her family. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for her legal defense, including paying for an ICE custody analyst and legal team to track her intake, pull her records, and analyze her custody status.

Market owner detained by ICE, granted emergency stay against deportation

Jul 1, 2026Friendship, MEIndia

Dhavalkumar Patel, owner of Wallace's Market in Friendship, Maine, was detained by ICE agents on June 28, 2026, at his store. Patel entered the U.S. from India in 2010 and was arrested by Border Patrol on November 1, 2010, for illegal entry. He failed to appear for his immigration hearing and was issued a removal order on August 8, 2011. Following his detention, he was held at Plymouth County Correctional Center in Massachusetts. His attorney filed a habeas corpus motion in U.S. District Court, and a federal judge issued an emergency stay against deportation and a temporary order preventing his transfer for 72 hours, citing due process rights.

Guatemalan man arrested at NYC immigration court despite federal judge's order

Jun 30, 2026New York, NYGuatemala

A man from the Dominican Republic was arrested by ICE agents at an immigration court at 290 Broadway in Lower Manhattan on Thursday, June 26, 2026. The man had fled persecution in his home country, entered the U.S., and was released from detention while his immigration case proceeded. He appeared at court as legally required for his scheduled hearing. ICE cited a conviction for trespassing as justification, but advocates with Make the Road New York argue the arrest violates a federal court order issued May 18, 2026, that barred ICE from making arrests at Manhattan immigration courts except in narrow circumstances. The man has since been transferred to ICE's Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, New Jersey.

Man dragged through shattered vehicle window during ICE operation in Olathe

Jun 30, 2026Olathe, KS

On June 30, an unmarked ICE squad surrounded a work truck in Olathe and shattered the driver's window, dragging the man through the broken glass while morning traffic passed.

Man re-detained by ICE at check-in despite court order barring his detention

Jun 30, 2026Mason, TN

Pedro Antonio Ardila Cortes filed a second habeas corpus petition after being re-arrested by ICE on June 30, 2026, during a scheduled supervision check-in at the ICE ISAP office. He states he was not arrested on any criminal charge and did not violate any condition of his supervision. This follows an earlier habeas petition in which the same court ordered his release on May 21, 2026, and enjoined the government from detaining him under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). Despite that injunction, he was taken back into custody about six weeks later and is now held at the West Tennessee Detention Facility. He is challenging his renewed detention without a bond hearing. The court ordered Respondent to either immediately release him or explain within three business days how his circumstances have changed since the prior order, and barred his transfer out of the facility while the case is pending.

Honduras mother forced to self-deport with US citizen daughter, leaving older daughters in Boston

Jun 30, 2026Brighton, MAHonduras

Margarita Melgar, a mother from Honduras who had lived in the U.S. for 12 years, was given a choice by immigration agents: be detained indefinitely or self-deport. She chose to self-deport and left for Honduras on Sunday, taking her 10-year-old daughter Katherin, a U.S. citizen who has never been to Honduras. Her two older daughters, ages 17 and 20, remained in the United States. Margarita had fled Honduras after facing extreme violence. The family said goodbye at Logan Airport, with her eldest daughter Damary, a college student, remaining in Boston.

Ukrainian national detained after traffic stop, habeas petition dismissed

Jun 30, 2026Tulsa, OKUkraine

Ihor B., a Ukrainian citizen, was detained by ICE on June 30, 2026, following an encounter with Oklahoma Highway Patrol. He had been temporarily paroled into the United States for humanitarian reasons and had recently received re-parole approval from USCIS in May 2026, permitting lawful presence until April 2028. An ICE officer served him with a Notice to Appear and detained him at the David L. Moss Criminal Justice Center in Tulsa. The court summarily dismissed his habeas corpus petition, finding that the NTA constituted sufficient written notice of parole termination under applicable regulations and that his detention was lawful pending removal proceedings.

Man hits head on ground during ICE detention in Oklahoma parking lot

Instagram📦Social media only
Jun 30, 2026Bethany, OK

Video documented an incident in which a man struck his head on the ground during an ICE detention in a parking lot in Bethany, Oklahoma. The incident occurred amid reports of increased ICE activity in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Mother of four detained by ICE, newborn and children separated

June 30, 2026North Las Vegas, NV

Laura, a mother of four children including a 2-week-old newborn, is in immigration detention facing deportation proceedings. She has lived in the United States since age 9 and has no criminal record. Her children are being cared for by their grandmother while Laura's case moves through the legal system. The family is seeking financial support for food, childcare, rent, legal expenses, and other necessities while Laura is detained.

ICE Arrests Asylum Applicant in Portland Home, Court Issues Restraining Order

Jun 30, 2026Portland, MaineBurkina Faso

Bernard Kabore, a Burkina Faso citizen who fled violence and religious persecution and was lawfully admitted on a B-2 visa in November 2021, filed an asylum application within one year of arrival and maintained compliance with all USCIS requirements. ICE arrested him at his Portland home on June 30, 2026, and transported him to the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island. The court issued a temporary restraining order enjoining ICE from removing Kabore from the District of Rhode Island pending resolution of his habeas corpus petition, with exceptions only for medical emergencies or bond hearings before an Immigration Judge.

Asylum Seeker Re-detained at ICE Check-in Despite Prior Release

Jun 30, 2026Pittsburg, CaliforniaMexico

Alberto Jose Mendoza, a 37-year-old Venezuelan national fleeing political persecution, was re-detained on June 20, 2026 when he arrived for a routine check-in at the ICE Los Angeles Field Office. He had been previously released on conditional parole under the Alternatives to Detention program, had complied with all check-in requirements, maintained employment as a payroll manager, and had no criminal history. ICE agents allegedly used excessive force, tackling him during arrest without notice or opportunity to be heard. The court granted his temporary restraining order, ordering his immediate release under the original conditions of supervision and enjoining re-detention without a custody hearing before a neutral arbiter.

Deported Venezuelans trapped in hotel collapse during twin earthquakes, families search for missing

Jun 30, 2026La Guaira, VEVenezuela

On June 24-26, 2026, the US deported approximately 146 Venezuelans, including minors, on a repatriation flight to Venezuela. The deportees were placed in Hotel Santuario (also called Hotel El Santuario) in La Guaira while undergoing repatriation processing. Within hours, twin earthquakes struck Venezuela with magnitude and force sufficient to collapse the hotel. At least 2,200 people were killed and 50,000 reported missing across the country. Among the deportees, some were killed, others severely injured with amputations, and many remain unaccounted for. Families gathered outside the hotel rubble searching for information, hampered by limited rescue access and unclear communication from authorities.

Nicaraguan asylum seeker arrested, fiancee detained, work permit questioned by ICE

Jun 30, 2026Milwaukee, WINicaragua

Galo Suárez, a Nicaraguan asylum seeker, was arrested on S. 13th Street on Milwaukee's South Side when unmarked ICE vehicles boxed in his car. An agent broke his car window with gun drawn. Suárez, his fiancee Reyna Elizabeth Garcia (25), and her brother Teodoro Rafael Garcia (37) were all detained. All three are eligible for work permits as asylum applicants. Suárez alleged that an agent claimed his work permit was forged and that officers used excessive force, pushing his fiancee against the car and verbally abusing her. Suárez was released later that day but his fiancee remains in custody in Kenosha County and the whereabouts of her brother are unknown.

Mexican man deported after traffic stop, illegal re-entry conviction

Jun 30, 2026Chatham County, GAMexico

Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes, 27, was identified during a traffic stop in Chatham County between January and April 2026 and placed in ICE custody. He pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after previous deportation and was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation. Miguel Aparicio-Ortiz, 40, was identified during a traffic stop in Chatham County between January and April 2026 and placed in ICE custody. He pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after previous deportation and was sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation.

More than 30 workers detained in HSI raid at Scholar Craft manufacturing plants

Jun 30, 2026Birmingham, AL

On June 30, 2026, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed federal search warrants at Scholar Craft manufacturing plants in Birmingham and Irondale, Alabama, as part of an investigation into alleged identity fraud and unlawful employment practices. More than 30 people identified as being in the country without authorization were encountered and taken into custody pending immigration proceedings. The operation involved federal, state, and local law enforcement partners.

Longtime U.S. resident Rigoberto Santillan-Quiroz ordered released after eight months in ICE detention without bond

Jun 30, 2026

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that ICE's policy of mandatory detention without bond for noncitizens violates due process and federal law, ordering the release of Rigoberto Santillan-Quiroz. Santillan-Quiroz, who has lived in the U.S. for approximately twenty years and is married to a legal permanent resident with a U.S. citizen stepdaughter, was arrested during an interior traffic stop in November 2025 and held for eight months without a bond hearing under the Trump administration's July 2025 detention policy. The court found no justification for his detention, noting he posed no flight risk or danger to public safety and had never been charged with a crime. The court ordered the government to grant him a bond hearing within seven days or release him, and the ruling applies across the Tenth Circuit's six-state jurisdiction.

Multiple residents detained during ICE operations across Kansas City, Missouri

Jun 29, 2026Kansas City, MO

On June 29, four ICE vehicles conducted operations across Kansas City, Missouri. Agents moved down Truman Road and Indiana in the Northeast, then to an apartment complex at 23rd and Topping, where they demanded identification and dragged residents from their own doorways.

Venezuelan asylum applicant arrested at ICE check-in appointment

Jun 29, 2026Aurora, COVenezuela

Alice Guillen Acosta, a Venezuelan national who presented at the El Paso port of entry on March 19, 2024, was released on her own recognizance and enrolled in an Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP). She complied fully with all terms including GPS monitoring and court appearances. On June 29, 2026, she was arrested without warning during a routine ICE check-in appointment and remained detained. The court granted her habeas corpus petition and ordered ICE to provide a bond hearing by July 31, 2026, requiring the government to prove by clear and convincing evidence that detention was justified.

Immigration Detainee Challenges Unlawful Detention in Habeas Corpus Petition

Jun 29, 2026California

Sid James Velasquez, an immigration detainee, petitioned for a writ of habeas corpus challenging his detention at Golden State Annex Detention Facility. The court found that Velasquez's case mirrored legal issues in multiple prior cases where the government's detention was found unlawful. The District Court granted the habeas corpus petition and ordered Velasquez's immediate release, prohibiting re-detention unless the government demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence at a pre-deprivation bond hearing that he poses a flight risk or danger to the community.

Mother finds deported son dead in Venezuela after earthquakes

Jun 29, 2026La Guaira, VenezuelaVenezuela

Daniel Alejandro Núñez Ramírez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan, was deported from the United States and arrived in Venezuela on June 24, 2026, as part of a group of 146 deported migrants. On the same day, two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. Daniel was being held at the Santuario La Llanada hotel in La Guaira while repatriation procedures were completed. When the hotel collapsed during the earthquakes, Daniel was killed instantly. His mother, Oswadeliz Núñez Ramírez, spent five days searching for him in hospitals, morgues, and across La Guaira and Caracas before his body was recovered from the rubble. She identified him by a tattoo. Only 32 of the 146 deported migrants survived the disaster.

Mexican mother detained at medical clinic and deported, separated from two sons in Austin

Jun 29, 2026Austin, TXMexico

Isalia Martínez, a 46-year-old Mexican mother, was detained by ICE agents in the parking lot of Community Care clinic in Austin on June 29 while heading to a medical appointment. After six days in immigration custody and being transferred between two detention centers, she was deported to Michoacán, Mexico. Martínez has two sons, ages 17 and 22, who remain in the United States. She expressed devastation at the separation, saying she feels helpless being separated from her children and hopes to reunite with them someday.

Guatemalan immigrant detained without bond hearing after ICE traffic stop

Jun 29, 2026Pike County, PAGuatemala

Felipe Emeterio Coxaj-Tipan, a Guatemalan citizen residing in the United States since 2018, was detained by ICE on June 29, 2026, along with his two sons when ICE agents pulled over their family car and shattered the window. He was held without bond at Pike County Correctional Facility under the mandatory detention provision of 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A). The court granted his habeas petition, finding his detention unlawful, and ordered his immediate release, ruling that § 1226(a) discretionary detention with bond hearing rights applies to him instead.

Father detained by ICE after traffic arrest, family seeks legal aid

Jun 29, 2026Covington, GA

Tania Hernandez's father was arrested on June 29, 2026, for driving without a license. After the family paid his bond and he was scheduled for release, ICE placed a hold on him at the detention facility, preventing his release. The family is now seeking legal representation to address the immigration enforcement action.

18-year-old from El Salvador detained by ICE after seven years in U.S.

Jun 29, 2026McFarland, CAEl Salvador

Roberto Antonio Avila Perla, an 18-year-old from El Salvador, was detained by ICE on June 29, 2026, and transferred to Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. Avila Perla entered the United States in May 2019 and was released on his own recognizance. He obtained Special Immigrant Juvenile status in September 2023 and had his removal proceedings administratively closed in October 2023, with no criminal history and no final removal order. The court granted his habeas corpus petition, finding his detention violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, and ordered his immediate release with restrictions on future detention requiring advance notice and bond hearings.

Russian trafficking survivor detained at ICE check-in, facing deportation to Russia during war

Jun 29, 2026Oklahoma City, OKRussia

Milana, a Russian immigrant and trafficking survivor, was detained at ICE's Oklahoma City office during a routine immigration check-in in September 2025. She arrived in the U.S. on a fiancé visa in the early 2000s, escaped an abusive first marriage involving human trafficking, and received a removal order in 2003 that was later converted to an order of supervision requiring routine check-ins. For over 20 years, she complied with these check-ins while building a life in the U.S., raising her U.S. citizen daughter, working consistently, and marrying Roger Swope, a U.S. Army veteran. On the day of her detention, ICE suddenly acted on the dormant removal order. Her attorney, Elissa Stiles, filed multiple legal challenges including habeas corpus petitions and argued Milana qualifies for a trafficking victim visa, but all were denied. A federal judge ruled on June 29, 2026, that Milana had not cooperated with Russian consulate authorities. ICE initially attempted to deport her to Russia despite the active war and closed airspace, then considered third-country removal options. Roger has spent over $20,000 on legal efforts. Since detention, Milana has been moved multiple times between facilities in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas, shackled during transfers. Her attorney states the only remaining option is to appeal to ICE for humanitarian intervention, as Milana fears for her life if deported to Russia during the ongoing war.

ICE operations detain roughly 150 in Gallatin County, terrorize Latino community

Jun 29, 2026Bozeman, MT

ICE conducted multiple operations throughout the week of June 29 around Bozeman and Gallatin Gateway, detaining approximately 150 residents according to nonprofit Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley, though other estimates put the number around 100. Following the arrests, fear gripped the local Latino community; many residents stopped leaving their homes entirely out of fear of arrest, and Latino business employees with valid visas ceased working. In response, Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley organized emergency deliveries of groceries, toiletries, diapers, infant formula, and other household supplies to nearly 160 households across Gallatin County between June 26 and July 7.

Asylum seeker with ankle monitor detained with 8-year-old son from Wisconsin home

Jun 29, 2026Wisconsin Dells, WI

Diana Socha Torres and her 8-year-old son were taken from their home in Wisconsin Dells in late June during the ICE surge. Socha Torres had an active asylum case, was wearing an ICE-issued ankle monitor, and had no criminal charges or convictions in Wisconsin. She and her son were transported to an ICE office in downtown Milwaukee and then transferred to the South Texas Residential Detention Center in Dilley, Texas. The arrest separated the child from their home and disrupted an active legal case.

Couple violently arrested by ICE from food market in Milwaukee

Jun 29, 2026Milwaukee, WI

Galo Suárez, 25, and his fiancée Reyna Elizabeth Garcia were arrested by ICE agents during the three-day surge. Suárez, who has a valid work permit, and Garcia were followed from a food market and arrested by masked agents in unmarked vehicles who broke out their windows, refused to answer questions, and repeatedly called them "dogs" in Spanish. Suárez was released and told to "run and not look back" or else he'd regret it; the agents retained Garcia and her brother. Suárez later joined concerned residents and local activists marching through Milwaukee's South Side to call for his fiancée's release.

20-year-old detained by ICE after traffic stop, law firm challenges arrest in federal court

Jun 29, 2026Bozeman, MT

Jose David Cortes Torres, a 20-year-old noncitizen who has lived in Bozeman since 2023, was pulled over on June 29 while driving to work by ICE agents in an unmarked white Dodge Durango. According to court documents, agents asked for his driver's license, told him he had no right to be in the United States, and arrested him without charging him with a crime. He was detained for more than 24 hours in a holding room at the Helena airport with more than 15 other individuals, forced to stand for approximately six hours due to cramped conditions, and was limited to a single three-minute phone call with attorneys. He was told to voluntarily self-deport or face months of lockup. His lawyers at Upper Seven Law filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court alleging the arrest violated constitutional due process rights and was part of a dragnet operation targeting Latinos based on race and language, without individualized suspicion. Cortes Torres is the primary caretaker for his grandmother, who is undergoing cancer treatment.

Woman detained by ICE challenges mandatory detention without bond hearing

Jun 29, 2026Willacy County, Texas

Jeny Patricia Mazariegos Garcia is currently detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the El Valle Detention Center in Willacy County, Texas. She filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the government's authority to detain her without a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A), arguing that mandatory detention without a hearing violates her constitutional rights under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The court indicated it was inclined to deny her petition based on analogous cases but decided to postpone its final ruling pending the Fifth Circuit's decision in a similar case, Sosnava Rodriguez v. Ortega, Case No. 26-50183. The court denied her request for a preliminary injunction or other immediate injunctive relief, leaving her in detention while awaiting the appellate court's guidance on the due process question.

Latin American asylum seeker deported to DR Congo faces psychological strain and poor conditions

Jun 29, 2026

Marta, a Latin American asylum seeker deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo under a U.S. third-country deportation policy, described feeling emotionally adrift and psychologically strained by her uncertain situation. Living in conditions marked by frequent power cuts, lack of clean water, and constant illness, she expressed distress about not knowing what her future holds.

Store owner Dale Patel arrested by ICE, court blocks deportation

Jun 29, 2026Friendship, MEIndia

Dale Patel (also known as Dhavalkumar Kalidas Patel), owner of Wallace's Market in Friendship, Maine, was arrested by ICE agents on June 27 at his workplace. A native of India, Patel allegedly entered the U.S. without authorization on November 1, 2010, and failed to appear for an immigration hearing, resulting in a removal order issued in August 2011. He is being held at Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Massachusetts while his wife Hanna manages the store and cares for their 2.5-year-old U.S.-born son. Attorney Audrey Richardson filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani issued an emergency order preventing Patel's transfer for at least 72 hours and ordering advance notice before any transfer out of Massachusetts. Over 200 community members signed a petition supporting his return, and a GoFundMe campaign raised more than $7,800 to assist the family.

Mother pulled from car, injured during ICE traffic stop in Milwaukee

Jun 29, 2026Milwaukee, WIDominican Republic

Estenderly Marte Polanco, a 31-year-old undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic, was arrested by ICE agents on June 27 during a traffic stop at 26th and Mitchell on Milwaukee's South Side while her 7-year-old daughter sat in the back seat. Videos and photographs documented that agents broke both the driver's and passenger-side windows of her car, pulled her onto the ground, and briefly pointed a taser at a cooperating driver. Family members shared photographs showing bruises, scrapes, and cuts on her neck, arms, and lip that they said were inflicted during the arrest. Wisconsin court records show no prior convictions or citations under her name. Her partner Frankeli, who is also undocumented, expressed concern about the welfare of their children. Polanco was held at Waukesha County jail and was among 39 people detained during a surge of ICE enforcement operations in the Milwaukee area. Legal experts who reviewed the incident questioned whether the window-breaking tactic was necessary or if adequate time was given for compliance.

El Salvador man detained after appearing for traffic ticket hearing in Waukesha

Jun 29, 2026Waukesha, WIEl Salvador

A 32-year-old undocumented immigrant from El Salvador was arrested by ICE agents on Saturday outside Waukesha County Courthouse after appearing for a hearing in his ongoing immigration court case. He had not missed any court dates and had no prior criminal convictions in Wisconsin. His traffic citation—for driving without a license in May—is a common infraction for undocumented immigrants barred from obtaining licenses under Wisconsin law. He was transferred to Greene County, Missouri, and held in custody there as of Monday morning.

Five men deported after traffic stops lead to illegal re-entry convictions

Jun 29, 2026Savannah, GAMexico, Guatemala, Honduras

Five men were identified during separate traffic stops in Chatham and Atkinson counties between January and April 2026. Miguel Aparicio-Ortiz (40, Mexico), Aguelio Lemos Hernandez (35, Honduras), Henry Marin-Hernandez (41, Guatemala), Moises Valenzuela-Mendez (42, Mexico), and Luis Angel Velasquez-Montes (27, Mexico) were each placed in ICE custody following their stops. All five pleaded guilty to illegal re-entry after previous removal in federal court in Savannah and were sentenced to time served followed by immediate deportation.

Kenyan truck driver detained 3 weeks by ICE at Virginia weigh station, released pending marriage case

Jun 29, 2026Middletown, VAKenya

James Wambui, a Kenyan truck driver, was arrested by ICE at a weigh station in Middletown, Virginia during a routine cargo stop after a local sheriff handed his documents to waiting ICE officers. He was transferred to Farmville Detention Center and held for three weeks, incurring $50,000 in legal fees. Wambui was eventually released due to pending marriage-based immigration petition, asylum application, and marriage to a U.S. citizen, though ICE retained his driver's license, work permit, Social Security card, and other personal documents.

Two detained at fruit stand in Olathe after ICE chase through parking lot

Jun 28, 2026Olathe, KS

On June 28, ICE agents chased a man through a Home Depot parking lot in Olathe, then detained two people from an agua fresca stand at Santa Fe and Ridgeview. Neighbors described the detained individuals as kind and friendly community members.

College student remains in U.S. after mother and sister forced to self-deport

Jun 28, 2026Boston, MAHonduras

Damary Melgar, a 20-year-old college student at Simmons College working full-time as a restaurant server, remained in the United States after her mother and 10-year-old sister self-deported to Honduras on June 28, 2026. After initially planning to pursue pre-med studies, Damary changed her focus to business and finance due to financial pressures on her family. She is now facing the burden of supporting her mother and sister from abroad while managing full-time work and school, living without stable housing since she cannot afford the family's Brighton apartment alone. Damary said she must remain strong to prevent her family from being harmed, and plans to send money to Honduras. She struggles with the separation and the understanding that despite her family's full compliance with immigration procedures—attending all required check-ins and following all rules—they were still forcibly separated.

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