HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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Father deported to Peru after 36 years in U.S., family fundraises for his survival

July 3, 2026West Palm Beach, FLPeru

Oxana's father was detained by ICE and deported to Peru after living in the United States for 36 years. He has just arrived in Peru and is struggling to meet basic living expenses as he rebuilds his life in a country where he has no established support system. His family, now separated by thousands of miles, created a GoFundMe to help him cover food, hygiene items, clothing, transportation, and other daily necessities during this transition.

Nicaraguan father arrested at routine ICE check-in despite scheduled 2027 court date

Jul 2, 2026Miami, FLNicaragua

A Nicaraguan father of two children was arrested by ICE during a routine check-in appointment on Monday, despite having an immigration court hearing already scheduled for 2027, according to his immigration attorney Cindy Blandon in Miami. The arrest occurred during a surge in which ICE detained more than 10,000 people over five days following White House directives to increase enforcement operations.

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.

Marco Rodríguez held for three days in overcrowded Miami ICE office

Jun 28, 2026Miramar, FL

Marco Rodríguez, 36, arrived with his wife Yajaira González for a routine asylum check-in appointment at the Miramar ICE office on June 28, where they had been reporting for five years. He was taken into custody and spent three days in an overcrowded room with approximately 70 other people, with barely any water or food and a single toilet. His wife remained outside the facility.

Eight U.S. children fly to Guatemala after parents deported or self-deported

Jun 26, 2026Miami, FLGuatemala

Eight children from three South Florida families departed Miami International Airport on a flight to Guatemala City to reunite with relatives after their parents were deported or chose to leave the country. Three of the children are U.S. citizens. The Guatemalan-Maya Center coordinated travel logistics, provided chaperones, and supported the families through the separation.

Father detained by ICE en route home from work, family fundraises for legal defense

Jun 25, 2026FL

Antonia Escobar's father was detained by ICE on June 25, 2026, while returning home from work. According to his daughter, he came to the country through legal means and has no criminal record. He was initially held at an ICE detention center in Broward County, Florida, before being transferred to the Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico. His bond request was denied, and the family is appealing the decision. His daughter, who is turning 18, is fundraising to cover legal fees and other costs associated with his case, as her mother stopped working to manage family affairs and the legal proceedings.

Cuban entrepreneur receives deportation order after building Miami salon

Jun 25, 2026Miami, FLCuba

Leidys Barrabi, a 25-year-old Cuban mother, revealed on Instagram that she received a deportation order after four years in the United States. Barrabi built a beauty salon, Heaven's Spa Miami, from scratch and established a stable life for her daughter and family. In a video posted June 25, 2026, she expressed disbelief at the order but stated she would continue fighting and believes God has control of her life. The post garnered over 757,000 views and thousands of supportive comments from followers urging her to appeal.

19-year-old Honduran detained at gas station, held days in overcrowded ICE facility

Jun 22, 2026Pompano Beach, FLHonduras

Roger Moisés Flores Oviedo, 19, a construction worker with no criminal record and a pending asylum application, was detained by ICE agents on Saturday as he left a gas station in Pompano Beach after buying lunch. He was placed in a van and taken to the Miramar ICE facility, where he was held in a room with 50 other men sitting on the floor with their hands behind their backs, given only one bottle of water a day and a piece of bread with peanut butter. He remained there until Tuesday, when he was transferred to the Krome detention center, where his wife Koren Noblig reports he was able to shower, sleep in a bed, and communicate with her.

Haitian businessman detained 9 months, transferred out-of-state despite court order

Jun 22, 2026Miami, FLHaiti

Dimitri Albert Edouard Vorbe, a 52-year-old Haitian businessman who owned one of Haiti's largest electric power providers, entered the U.S. legally with a valid visa in January 2020. He was arrested by federal agents on September 23, 2025, at his South Miami home and detained at Krome Detention Center. Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoked a rarely used foreign policy authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 to target Vorbe for deportation, claiming he engaged in violence and gang support that destabilized Haiti—allegations Vorbe's lawyers deny. On May 12, 2026, U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles approved a negotiated agreement prohibiting Vorbe's deportation to Haiti and directing his transfer to the Dominican Republic within seven days, though Dominican authorities stated they would not allow his entry. On June 22, 2026, Vorbe was transferred to a detention facility in Mississippi as part of an emergency evacuation due to brush fires. His attorneys contend this transfer violated the federal court order prohibiting his removal from the Southern District of Florida, noting he was moved out of state without notice despite the judicial prohibition.

Man convicted of traffic misdemeanor, placed in ICE custody after court appearance

Jun 20, 2026Gainesville, FL

Jander Alexander Cordero-Silva, 29, was stopped by Gainesville Police on May 18 for driving with a suspended license. He told officers a judge had told him his license was not suspended three days prior, but his license was under administrative suspension by Florida for accumulating points and financial obligations. He was arrested and charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, a second-degree misdemeanor. On June 18, he pleaded no contest and was convicted; the judge imposed a time-served sentence but he remained in custody on an ICE hold. He was transferred to ICE custody two days later and held at Baker Correctional Institute.

Colombian activist detained by ICE after visa overstay, faces deportation amid political tensions

Jun 20, 2026Miami, FLColombia

Franklin Humberto Coral-Garrido, a Colombian activist and lawyer aligned with President Gustavo Petro, was detained by ICE on June 16-17, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona while walking with his 12-year-old son. Coral entered the U.S. in December 2015 on a B1/B2 tourist visa valid for six months but remained in the country for approximately ten years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum authorizing his detention and deportation, citing his political activities supporting Petro and opposition to right-wing presidential candidate Abelardo De la Espriella as harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests. Colombian President Petro accused the U.S. of political persecution timed to interfere in Colombia's June 21 presidential runoff election and demanded clarification from the Trump administration. Coral had filed an asylum application in 2016 and held work authorization through 2028 granted by a federal judge, but authorities allegedly informed him the authorization was being canceled. He has been transferred between detention facilities in Phoenix, El Paso, and Louisiana pending formal deportation proceedings.

Mexican man arrested after allegedly striking ICE agent during traffic stop near Orlando

Jun 18, 2026Orange County, FLMexico

Elias Bautista, a 35-year-old Mexican national, was arrested after allegedly striking an ICE agent during a traffic stop near Americana Boulevard and Pointe Vista Circle in Orange County on June 16, 2026. According to Florida Highway Patrol, Bautista was in a vehicle that was stopped by FHP and ICE agents working together. When law enforcement approached, several people fled the vehicle. During the pursuit and confrontation with an ICE agent, Bautista allegedly struck the agent, causing a significant head injury, before fleeing the scene. Investigators located and arrested Bautista on June 18 during a targeted operation. He was charged with felony aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer. ICE officers and Florida Highway Patrol conducted a vehicle stop on June 18, 2026, near Americana Boulevard and Pointe Vista Circle. During the stop, Elias Bautista, a 23-year-old from Mexico, fled on foot and physically resisted apprehension. Bautista struck an ICE agent, causing a significant head injury, before fleeing the scene. He was apprehended days later and charged with felony aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer.

Hundreds of detainees transferred from Florida Everglades ICE facility, whereabouts unclear to families

Jun 18, 2026Florida Everglades, FL

All detainees at the South Florida Detention Center, a facility in Florida's Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz" that opened in July 2025, were transferred to other facilities in mid-June 2026. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cited hurricane season safety concerns as the reason for the transfers. However, immigration advocates and lawyers dispute this explanation, noting the facility operated throughout the previous hurricane season without prior closures. Approximately 800 detainees have been transferred, with families and legal representatives reporting difficulty locating them and unclear information about their current status. The facility had faced persistent criticism and lawsuits over poor conditions, including worms in food, non-functioning toilets, flooding, denial of medical care, solitary confinement, and inadequate legal access.

Guatemalan interpreter detained 7 months, ordered deported, leaves U.S. citizen children behind

Jun 18, 2026Lake Worth Beach, FLGuatemala

Olga Perez, a 47-year-old indigenous Mam language interpreter and community leader in Palm Beach County, Florida, was arrested during a traffic stop on I-95 in November 2025 and placed in ICE custody in Arizona. After seven months in detention and nine delayed immigration hearings, an immigration judge ordered her deported to Guatemala by July 6, 2026. She was released on her own recognizance pending voluntary deportation and made a surprise visit to her family and the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Lake Worth Beach before being deported. Perez had spent 30 years in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, volunteering as an interpreter and translator for indigenous communities in the region. Her deportation leaves behind four U.S. citizen children, ages 13 to 21.

Husband detained by ICE, pregnant wife struggles to support two children

Jun 17, 2026Live Oak, FL

Diego was arrested and is currently detained by ICE. His wife Rosali, who is four months pregnant with their second child and caring for their daughter full-time, is struggling to meet basic household expenses including rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation while her husband fights his case.

Russian asylum seeker detained after four years living legally in US

Jun 16, 2026Hollywood, FLRussia

Iaroslav Medvezhov, a 19-year-old Russian citizen, lawfully entered the United States on a visa in 2022 at age 16 with his parents and younger sister. His father filed an asylum application listing Medvezhov as a derivative beneficiary before his visa expired in September 2022. USCIS granted Medvezhov work authorization in July 2024 while his asylum application remained pending. Medvezhov graduated from high school, worked lawfully at two jobs, obtained a Florida driver's license, and has no criminal history. On June 16, 2026, Border Patrol agents stopped Medvezhov while he was driving to work without a traffic violation, arrested him for visa overstay despite his pending asylum application, and transported him to Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. After being detained for over 40 days with his bond hearing postponed to August 5, 2026, Medvezhov filed a habeas corpus petition. The federal court granted the petition and ordered his immediate release, ruling that due process required a pre-deprivation bond hearing before detention given his four years of government-sanctioned liberty while his asylum case proceeded.

Venezuelan mother and U.S. citizen daughter deported to Venezuela within hours

Jun 13, 2026Jacksonville, FLVenezuela

Yoelí Altagracia Bracho Casanova, a 26-year-old Venezuelan, was arrested by ICE during an immigration appointment in Jacksonville on June 13 and detained alongside her 20-month-old U.S. citizen daughter, Rebeca Peña Bracho. Despite an approved I-130 family petition and legal documents prepared by her attorney—including a stay of removal request, a cancellation of removal application, and a permanent residency petition—ICE transferred both to a detention center in Texas and deported them to Venezuela within hours. Her husband, a Cuban-American U.S. citizen, stated that ICE refused to accept the legal documents when presented at the appointment, and transferred them out of state at approximately 2 a.m., preventing the attorney from filing additional documents the following day.

Russian detainee released after judge rebukes government for ignoring bond hearing orders

Jun 12, 2026FLRussia

U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek ordered the immediate release of Dmitrii Iastrebov, detained at Baker County Detention Facility in Florida, after finding the Trump administration repeatedly violated court orders regarding his right to an individualized bond hearing. The government initially conceded Iastrebov was entitled to a bond hearing, but when an immigration judge refused to hold it, government lawyers accepted that refusal without appeal. When Iastrebov petitioned federal court again, the government claimed its previous concession "was in error" and asked the court to reverse its own decision. Judge Dudek rejected this request, criticizing the government's conduct as "a masterclass in litigation cynicism" and "a complete inability to follow judicial directions," and ordered Iastrebov's release within 48 hours.

Cuban national arrested by ICE after 26 years under deportation order

Jun 11, 2026Miami, FLCuba

Elias Cardoza-Torres, a 58-year-old Cuban national, was arrested by ICE on June 11, 2026, after being released from Miami-Dade County custody. Cardoza-Torres entered the United States in 1989 with a temporary stay permit and was eligible to adjust his immigration status under the Cuban Adjustment Act but never did. An immigration judge issued a final deportation order against him in April 2000, but he remained in the United States for over 26 years. He has accumulated multiple criminal convictions spanning from 1991 to 2018, including selling heroin, cocaine possession, burglary, vehicle theft, and weapons-related felonies. The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office cooperated with ICE in his arrest, and he remains in ICE custody pending deportation.

Guatemalan man arrested in park after wildlife officer's false dog-bite claim

Jun 11, 2026Bonita Springs, FLGuatemala

A Guatemalan man was arrested in a Bonita Springs park after a Florida Fish and Wildlife officer falsely claimed the man's dog had bitten him, though the officer never exited his vehicle. The man was held for approximately 40 minutes before ICE officers arrived and took him into custody. His wife, who witnessed the incident, said both are pending asylum cases and spoke anonymously to avoid jeopardizing their immigration status.

Immigration Detainee Granted Bond Hearing After Habeas Corpus Petition

Jun 10, 2026Jacksonville, FL

Wenbiao Lin filed a habeas corpus petition challenging ICE's mandatory detention without bond at Baker Correctional Institution. An immigration judge conducted a bond hearing on June 18, 2026, and ordered Lin's release on a $10,000 bond. The federal court dismissed the case as moot on July 2, 2026, after the bond determination was made.

Longtime restauranteur parents detained by ICE, facing deportation to China

Jun 10, 2026Palatka, FLChina

Leo's parents, ages 60 and 62, were detained by ICE and held separately at facilities within an hour of Palatka, Florida. The parents have lived in the United States since the 1990s and operated Palatka Buffet for nearly 20 years before their son Leo took over the family business with Leo's Fine Sushi. They are facing deportation to China. Their son has launched a fundraiser to support legal fees and family expenses during their detention.

Woman released after over one year in ICE detention, fights for custody of children

Jun 9, 2026Kissimmee, FL

A woman was detained by ICE for over one year and separated from her children, who were placed in the care of their father and stepmother. Following her release, she is seeking to regain custody of her children after serious allegations of child abuse emerged against the stepmother. She requires legal assistance to navigate both her ongoing immigration case and family court custody proceedings.

Legal resident dragged through broken glass by FDLE agents, convicted of resisting arrest

Jun 9, 2026Stuart, FLGuatemala

Ernesto Puac Son, a 33-year-old roofer and legal resident of Stuart, Florida, with a valid work permit and pending asylum case, has lived in the United States for 18 years. On October 1, 2025, FDLE agents conducted a traffic stop near his house after he made a rolling stop. Puac refused to exit his van because he had just witnessed agents arresting his brother Felipe, who had a deportation order but no criminal history. FDLE agent John Soltys smashed Puac's van window and dragged him through the broken glass, pinning him face-down on the ground and leaving him with gashes on his face, back, and arms. Despite showing a valid Florida driver's license, Puac was charged with resisting arrest with violence. He was convicted on January 7, 2026, and sentenced to one year in Martin County Jail. FDLE was operating under the 287(g) program, which authorizes state and local law enforcement to enforce immigration law.

Medical emergencies surge at Miramar ICE detention site

Jun 8, 2026Miramar, FLHonduras

Records show a sharp rise in 911 medical calls to the ICE field office in Miramar, Florida, which has increasingly been used to hold detainees for days despite historically serving as an administrative check-in location. Detainees report being denied access to medications, crowded conditions, and lack of basic hygiene facilities. The surge in emergencies comes as concerns mount over future detention capacity with the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants.

Honduran mother hospitalized with heart condition after denied blood pressure medication in ICE detention

Jun 5, 2026FLHonduras

A Honduran mother of two was hospitalized for a heart problem after being denied blood pressure medications while detained in a Florida immigration facility. Her case is among hundreds documented across at least 33 states where detainees allege medical neglect in ICE custody.

Mexican man deported with untreated abdominal cancer after seven months in ICE custody

Jun 5, 2026Wimauma, FLMexico

Jose-Antonio Segismundo, 48, was detained for over seven months at the Alligator Alcatraz facility in Florida and the Folkston D Ray ICE Processing Center in Georgia with untreated abdominal cancer. He was arrested approximately five weeks before a scheduled appointment with a cancer specialist, and despite his wife providing medical records and explaining his condition to officials, he received no cancer treatment—only Tylenol for severe stomach pain. In spring 2026, he was deported to Mexico, a country he had left nearly 30 years prior. He must now restart his cancer care search in Oaxaca.

CBP and Coast Guard rescue 240 Haitian migrants from sinking vessel

Jun 4, 2026Miami, FLHaiti

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued 240 Haitian migrants from an overcrowded vessel taking on water in the Caribbean. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott stated the operation prevented a potential catastrophic loss of life while stopping a maritime migration attempt. The rescues occur amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Haiti, where gang violence has displaced over 1.4 million people according to UN estimates.

Boy separated from mother twice reunited after judge's order, dozens more remain separated

Jun 4, 2026Miami, FLGuatemala

Ederson Galicia Alva, 11, was first separated from his mother in 2018 as a toddler under Trump's first-term family separation policy. After legal intervention and reunification, the family rebuilt their life in Florida. In June 2025, federal agents arrested his mother Mirsy Maricela Alva López during an immigration enforcement action, and she was deported to Guatemala while Ederson and his sister were separated again. After approximately 11 months, a federal judge ordered the family's return to Florida in late May 2026. An Associated Press investigation found that dozens of children covered by the Ms. L v. ICE settlement—a 2018 agreement meant to prevent family separations and protect over 11,800 family members—have been re-separated from their families during the second Trump administration despite legal protections.

British father detained at green card interview, separated from wife and twin sons

Jun 3, 2026Tampa, FLUnited Kingdom

Connor Michael Read, 29, a British national who came to the U.S. at age 9 and was a DACA recipient, was detained by ICE on June 3, 2026, during a green card interview in Tampa, Florida. Read, who runs a pressure-washing business called Refresh Florida and has lived in the country for over 20 years, was separated from his American wife Jaelin and their three-year-old twin sons Ryder and Ozzie during what agents described as a private interview. Read reported that agents bound his hands and tied his ankles during transport to a local jail, then to the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center. He described detention conditions as "horrible" and "dirty," and reported becoming ill with headaches, chills, and fever. His wife discovered their I-130 petition for permanent residency had been approved the same day he was detained. His wife told media they are considering relocating the family to the United Kingdom if he is deported. An ICE spokesperson cited a 2011 removal order and stated Read violated the terms of his F-2 dependent visa after his parent's F-1 student status ended.

Mother deported despite court protections, separated from children a second time

Jun 2026West Palm Beach, FLGuatemala

Mirsy Maricela Alva López, a 39-year-old Guatemalan mother, was first separated from her son Ederson in 2018 when she was detained at the U.S.-Mexico border and he was placed in government custody as an unaccompanied minor for nearly five months before a federal court order reunified them in the Ms. L v. ICE case. In June 2025, while traveling to a landscaping job near Mar-a-Lago, federal agents stopped her, transferred her through two Florida jails to ICE custody in Louisiana, and deported her to Guatemala despite being a protected Ms. L class member with legal status, work authorization, and a court-ordered pathway to residency and asylum. She was not given the opportunity to speak with immigration officials about her legal protections before deportation. Her son Ederson, who had been in fifth grade in Florida, suffered nightmares and had to repeat fourth grade in Spanish during the family's 11 months in Guatemala. After a federal judge's order in May 2026, Mirsy and her children returned to Florida, though she remains under ankle monitoring and required to attend ICE check-ins every two weeks.

Jamaican mother detained by ICE, faces deportation despite U.S. citizen children

May 31, 2026Orlando, FLJamaica

Kadeen Hunt, brought to the United States from Jamaica on a tourist visa at age 6, was detained by ICE for several months and is now facing removal proceedings. Hunt has five U.S. citizen children, one of whom is autistic and requires special support. Without legal representation, Hunt faces imminent deportation and family separation.

249 undocumented immigrants detained in Florida Highway Patrol's Operation 9

May 29, 2026FL

Florida Highway Patrol, in coordination with ICE, U.S. Border Patrol, and multiple state and local agencies, conducted a three-day enforcement operation called Operation 9 along South Florida highways. More than 100 officers from the participating agencies conducted traffic stops, with officers flagging individuals during routine stops for traffic violations and immigration violations, particularly when drivers lacked valid licenses. The operation resulted in 249 detentions, with those arrested processed at an FHP station and transferred to ICE custody, where they were offered voluntary return flights or the option to remain in custody pending immigration hearings.

Cuban man detained nearly 7 months ordered released; court cites government incompetence

May 28, 2026FLCuba

Mauricio Castellanos-Gorra, a Cuban national and lawful permanent resident with a 2004 deportation order, was placed in ICE custody in October 2025 after 21 years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek ordered his release in May 2026 after finding the government failed to meet its burden of proving removal was reasonably foreseeable under the Zadvydas standard. The government did not respond to the court's order requesting details about attempted removals to Mexico.

Immigration Detainee Released from Orange County Jail After Court Order

May 28, 2026Orlando, FL

Gabriel Campos Millan was detained under immigration law 8 U.S.C. § 1225 at Orange County Jail in Florida. The court granted a temporary restraining order on May 6, 2026, enjoining respondents from detaining him and ordering his immediate release if held on immigration charges. Orange County Jail released Millan in accordance with the court order, making the habeas corpus petition moot. Mario Rafael R.A., who entered the U.S. without inspection in December 2022 but was formally paroled by DHS and had complied with all conditions for 3.5 years, was arrested during a routine traffic stop in Oklahoma and taken into immigration custody. He was transferred between detention facilities before arriving at Golden State Annex in California. The court granted his habeas petition and ordered his immediate release, finding his detention without pre-deprivation process violated due process rights.

Cuban general's daughter detained by ICE after entering on tourist visa

May 27, 2026South Florida, FLCuba

Alina Rosales Aguirreurreta, a physician and daughter of historic Cuban general Ulises Rosales del Toro, was detained by ICE in South Florida in May 2026. She had entered the United States in 2023 on a B1/B2 tourist visa issued at the U.S. Embassy in Havana and was living in South Florida while seeking to regularize her immigration status. ICE confirmed her detention but did not publicly disclose the specific reason for the detention or the facility location.

Former Venezuelan Army Major remains in ICE custody despite dismissed DUI charge

May 26, 2026Florida, FLVenezuela

Henry Morales Hernandez, 55, a former Venezuelan Army Major with an active asylum case, has been detained by ICE since May following a traffic stop in Florida. Prosecutors dismissed the driving under the influence charge, with breath test results below the legal limit. Morales Hernandez arrived legally on a tourist visa in 2021 and has been granted Temporary Protected Status while his asylum case proceeds in immigration court.

Honduran father self-deports from Miami, leaving family behind after ICE raid on his workers

May 25, 2026Miami, FLHonduras

Marvin Suazo, 43, self-deported to Honduras after ICE agents raided his workplace and deported six of his employees earlier in 2026. Suazo, who had lived in the U.S. undocumented since 2014 due to a prior deportation, decided to leave rather than risk arrest, while his wife Maribel and daughter Samantha — who both hold permanent residency — remained in the country. Before his departure, the family took a final trip together along the East Coast, including a stop in Miami, following Samantha's graduation from Yale University.

Green card holder arrested after sister's ties to Cuban military conglomerate revealed

May 22, 2026Miami, FLCuba

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.

Two Cuban migrants deported despite active legal appeals and habeas corpus petitions

May 21, 2026Orlando, FLCuba

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.

Cuban man deported despite pending appeal granted special parole to return

May 21, 2026Cape Coral, FLCuba

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.

Father arrested by ICE, family struggles with rent and legal costs

May 20, 2026Hollywood, FL

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.

Salvadoran asylum seeker beaten in solitary confinement, deported after seven-day lockdown

May 18, 2026Everglades, FLEl Salvador

Angel Lemus-Linares, a 32-year-old from El Salvador seeking political asylum, was placed in solitary confinement at T. Don Hutto Detention Center in Texas for seven consecutive days after being beaten by ICE officers following an altercation with another detainee. He reported being locked in isolation without adequate medical care or bathroom access, and experienced multiple additional solitary confinement placements and prolonged lockdowns during his 28+ months in ICE custody. After an immigration judge denied his asylum claim in December 2025, Lemus-Linares was deported to Mexico and is now applying for refugee status.

Cuban national detained after domestic violence arrest in Florida

May 17, 2026FloridaCuba

Luis Alberto Banos Gonzalez, a Cuban national who entered the United States on July 14, 2024, was arrested on May 17, 2026, by local law enforcement in Florida for Battery (Domestic Violence) under F.S. 784.03.1a1. He was subsequently transferred to ICE custody and detained at Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. The court granted his habeas corpus petition, finding his re-detention without a pre-deprivation hearing violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause, and ordered respondents to provide an individualized bond hearing within 14 days or immediately release him.

Cuban immigrant detained seven months, suffered stroke in ICE custody, released after judge's order

May 15, 2026Miami, FLCuba

Justo Betancourt, a 54-year-old Cuban national who entered the U.S. in 1990 and held lawful status, was detained by ICE on October 29, 2025, during a routine annual immigration check-in. He was held for approximately seven months at the South Florida Detention Facility (Alligator Alcatraz) in the Florida Everglades, despite being unable to be readily deported to Cuba. During detention, he was shackled up to 23 hours daily and denied proper medical care despite having diabetes, neuropathy, heart and blood pressure issues, suffering strokes, cardiac arrest, and significant health deterioration. His daughter Arianne organized weekly vigils outside the facility for 44 weeks to advocate for his release. On May 13, 2026, U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek granted his habeas corpus petition, finding his detention was erroneous and unlawful, and ordered his release within 48 hours. Betancourt was released on May 14-15, 2026.

Father tasered by deputies after calling 911, detained by ICE despite pending asylum case

May 11, 2026Palm Beach, FL

Axel Sánchez Toledo called 911 in December 2025 requesting a welfare check on his 4-year-old daughter in Palm Beach. When sheriff's deputies arrived, they accused him of being undocumented and detained him for ICE. Body camera footage shows deputies tasering, tackling, and striking Toledo with a baton while he was on the ground, despite his claims of having a pending asylum case and documentation. Toledo spent four months in jail on a resisting arrest charge before prosecutors dropped it in exchange for an apology letter. ICE took him into custody on May 1, 2026, and he now faces deportation proceedings.

Orlando music venue owner Uncle Lou detained by ICE after alcohol licensing raid

May 9, 2026Orlando, FLJamaica

Cleon 'Uncle Lou' Williams, 62, a Jamaican-born owner of Uncle Lou's Entertainment Hall in Orlando's Mills 50 district, was detained by ICE on May 9-10, 2026, following his arrest during a raid by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco investigating alcohol licensing violations at his venue. ICE placed an immigration detainer on Williams due to an expired visa, and he was booked into Orange County Corrections Facility with no criminal charges filed. Williams has operated the prominent music venue since 2005 and is widely recognized in Orlando's music community for supporting emerging artists, offering free performance opportunities to hundreds of local indie bands over two decades. Community members including U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and State Rep. Anna Eskamani expressed concern about his detention, with Frost visiting him in jail. Friends described Williams as 'a pure light and joy' and a pillar of the community, and fundraisers raised over $28,000 for his legal representation.

Father of Venezuelan soccer player detained by ICE during traffic stop

May 9, 2026Orlando, FLVenezuela

Juan Tablante, father of Atlanta United midfielder Moisés Tablante, was detained by ICE during a traffic stop while traveling from Orlando, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. Tablante has been an asylum applicant since 2016, holds a valid work permit and driver's license, and has no criminal record. He remains in immigration detention despite his pending asylum status.

Marathon man with TPS deported to Haiti despite court order, returns to U.S.

May 7, 2026Marathon, FLHaiti

Brulan, a Haitian man who has lived in Marathon for 22 years and held valid Temporary Protected Status, was detained during a routine traffic stop on April 12, 2026, and deported to Haiti on May 7 despite a federal judge's order keeping TPS protections in place. Working three jobs as a bus driver, hotel worker, and restaurant employee, Brulan sent money home every two weeks to support as many as 50 family members in Haiti. In Haiti, he encountered armed gangs controlling highways and the capital, feared for his life, and remained confined to his brother's house. His lawyer filed a wrongful detention lawsuit, and Brulan was allowed to return to South Florida two weeks after deportation. Public records show only traffic citations in his background, and his restaurant employer described him as a "very good soul."

Cuban man with cocaine trafficking conviction detained by ICE in Hialeah

May 7, 2026Hialeah, FLCuba

Pedro Fernández, an undocumented Cuban national with a prior cocaine trafficking conviction, was detained by ICE agents in Hialeah, Florida on May 7, 2026. The detention was part of a broader ICE operation targeting undocumented immigrants with serious criminal convictions, including sexual abuse of minors, assault, drug trafficking, and other felonies. Fernández lacked documentation confirming legal residence in the United States and faces deportation proceedings.

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