HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

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1078 incidents with known locations

Bosnian LPR Detained by ICE in Utah After Domestic Violence Cases

Apr 21, 2026Hurricane, UTBosnia and Herzegovina

Edin Elezovic, a Bosnian citizen and lawful permanent resident, was detained by ICE on April 21, 2026, at Washington County Jail in Utah after completing a 120-day sentence for violating protective orders. ICE determined he was deportable under immigration law for domestic violence-related convictions including protective order violations, child abuse, and assault. The federal court denied his habeas corpus petition, finding his detention lawful under immigration law.

Peruvian asylum seeker detained by ICE after missing criminal court appearance

Apr 21, 2026San Francisco, CAPeru

Anibal Sante Rojas, a Peruvian national with a pending asylum application, was detained by ICE on April 21, 2026, during a scheduled check-in appointment in San Francisco. He had been previously released on recognizance but was re-detained after being charged with identity theft and failing to appear for his criminal arraignment. The court granted his habeas petition in part and ordered ICE to provide him with a bond hearing within 14 days.

ICE detainees in Baldwin, Michigan begin hunger strike over conditions and long stays

Apr 21, 2026Baldwin, MIJordan

Approximately 200 to 1,400 detainees at North Lake Processing Facility, a 1,800-bed ICE detention center in Baldwin, Michigan, began a hunger and labor strike on Monday, April 21, 2026, to protest conditions including medical neglect, slow ICE communication, and prolonged confinement. The facility, operated by private prison company GEO Group, holds detainees with average stays of 49 days, though some have been held for nearly six months. By Wednesday morning, detainees in at least one unit had stopped the strike.

Russian asylum seeker detained after nearly four years on parole

Apr 20, 2026Imperial County, CARussia

Dzhokhar Gutsiev, a Russian citizen who entered the U.S. in 2022 seeking asylum and was released on humanitarian parole, was detained by DHS in April 2026 while traveling for work in Imperial County, California. Gutsiev had been living in the community for 46 months with work authorization and no criminal history when his parole was abruptly revoked without notice. The federal court granted his habeas petition and ordered his immediate release, ruling that the government violated his due process rights by revoking parole without justification or hearing.

Federal judge orders ICE release of Iranian Christian asylum seeker after ruling detention violated due process

Apr 20, 2026El Paso, TXIran

Argam Nazarian, a 27-year-old Armenian Christian Iranian asylum seeker, was detained by ICE in June 2025 despite having an active asylum case and no criminal history. An immigration judge ordered his release on bond in August 2025, finding him neither a flight risk nor a danger, but ICE refused to release him, citing mandatory detention policies for those who entered without inspection. After 298 days in detention across multiple facilities, including El Paso, a federal judge ruled in April 2026 that ICE violated Nazarian's Fifth Amendment due process rights by holding him without a bond hearing and using incorrect legal authority. Nazarian was released and reunited with family in Los Angeles, though his immigration case remains pending.

Venezuelan woman held six months in ICE custody after domestic dispute call, then released

Apr 20, 2026Jacksonville, FLVenezuela

Gabriela Lozano Sousa, a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. legally in 2023 through a humanitarian parole program, married U.S. citizen Brandon Garrison in April 2025, believing it would put her on a path to legal residency. In October 2025, a domestic-dispute call brought local police to the scene, who turned her over to federal immigration authorities; no criminal charges resulted. ICE classified her as an 'arriving immigrant,' subjecting her to mandatory detention without a bond hearing, and she was held at a facility in Baker County, Florida. Her attorneys argued the classification was legally incorrect. The couple had filed an I-130 petition on her behalf, under review since November 2025. A federal judge dismissed her immigration case in spring 2026, and she was released after roughly six months in detention, though federal authorities retained 30 days to appeal, leaving her future status uncertain.

Cuban detainee organizes 200 immigrants against detention facility conditions

Apr 19, 2026Estancia, NMCuba

Rogelio Bolufé Izquierdo, a 44-year-old Cuban national detained at Torrance County Detention Facility in New Mexico, organized approximately 200 detainees into a group called the Union of Those Kidnapped by ICE to document poor conditions including inadequate water access, spoiled food, insufficient medical care, and unsanitary sewage leaks. Izquierdo, who entered legally in 2020 but overstayed his visa, has filed multiple habeas corpus petitions challenging his indefinite civil detention without bail, while his fiancée documents his case and advocacy efforts.

Man detained by ICE after prior release granted habeas corpus relief

Apr 18, 2026

Eduar Arturo Torres Lizcaino was released on his own recognizance in February 2024 after entering the United States. On April 18, 2026, ICE re-detained him without providing a pre-deprivation hearing. Torres Lizcaino filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus and motion for temporary restraining order challenging his detention. The court found that his prior release by immigration authorities created a liberty interest in his continued release and that his re-detention without a pre-deprivation hearing violated due process. The court granted his habeas corpus petition and ordered his immediate release on the same conditions he was subject to prior to his re-detention. The court also enjoined ICE from re-detaining him in the future without notice and a pre-deprivation hearing before an immigration judge, where ICE must prove by clear and convincing evidence that he is a danger to the community or a flight risk.

Trump administration deports South American woman to Congo despite CAT protection

Apr 18, 2026Louisiana, LA

A 23-year-old South American woman was deported to the Democratic Republic of Congo after being detained in Louisiana for 15 months by ICE. An immigration judge had previously granted her protection from removal to her home country after she claimed persecution based on her LGBTQ+ status. Despite a federal magistrate judge's recommendation for her release in a lawsuit filed in December, she was deported before a district judge could approve the recommendation as part of a third-country deportation agreement.

86-year-old French widow detained by ICE after husband's death, released after French intervention

Apr 25, 2026Louisiana, LAFrance

Marie-Thérèse Ross, an 86-year-old French citizen and widow, was arrested by ICE agents on April 1, 2026, at her home in Anniston, Alabama, for overstaying her 90-day tourist visa. Ross had entered the U.S. in June 2025 on a Visa Waiver Program to marry William Ross, a retired U.S. military veteran whom she had known since the 1950s after meeting him while he was stationed at a NATO base in France. After her husband died unexpectedly in January 2026, she fell out of legal status and became involved in a contested probate dispute with her late husband's stepsons over his estate. She was handcuffed at her home and transferred to an immigration detention facility in Basile, Louisiana, where she was held for 16 days in dormitory conditions with approximately 58-70 other women. Despite suffering from pre-existing heart and back problems, she experienced deteriorating health during detention and reported post-traumatic stress symptoms. An Alabama judge noted that her stepson, a former state trooper and federal employee, may have used his position to prompt her detention. Following intervention by the French foreign minister and the French Consul General, who visited her twice and coordinated with U.S. officials, Ross was released and returned to France.

Indian National Detained After Border Crossing Near Tecate, California

Apr 17, 2026Adelanto, CAIndia

Ankit Ankit, a native and citizen of India, entered the United States on March 6, 2024, near Tecate, California, without inspection. ICE officers took him into custody on April 17, 2026, and transferred him to the Desert View Annex facility in Adelanto, California. The court granted his petition for a bond hearing, ordering ICE to provide an individualized bond hearing within seven days.

Nicaraguan asylum seeker re-detained at ICE check-in after three years of compliance

Apr 16, 2026Los Angeles, CANicaragua

Mixan Javier Gonzalez-Rivas, a Nicaraguan citizen who entered the U.S. in December 2022 and was initially released on parole, was re-detained on April 16, 2026 during a routine ICE check-in in Los Angeles. He had been complying with all supervision requirements for over three years, was employed as a caregiver for Los Angeles County, and had a pending asylum application. The court ordered his release within 24 hours, finding his re-detention without a pre-deprivation hearing violated due process.

Venezuelan family self-deports after month in Texas detention

Apr 16, 2026El Paso, TXVenezuela

José and his family from Venezuela entered the U.S. legally in 2024 using the CBP One app and received parole to live and work while their asylum cases were pending. After their immigration court hearing in June 2025 was dismissed under a Trump administration order, they were arrested outside the courtroom and detained for a month at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley. Following their release, the family decided to abandon the asylum process and purchased one-way plane tickets back to Venezuela.

Two Bhutanese refugees detained in Pennsylvania by ICE

Apr 16, 2026Dauphin County, PABhutan

Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained two Bhutanese refugees from Central Pennsylvania over the weekend. Both men are permanent residents on a path to U.S. citizenship. The detentions are part of an ongoing pattern where the Trump administration is deporting Bhutanese refugees back to Bhutan, which then re-deports them to India without travel documents, leaving them stateless.

Indian asylum seeker released after court finds detention violated due process

Apr 15, 2026McFarland, CAIndia

Ashish Kumar is an asylum seeker from India who entered the United States on September 16, 2023, and was initially released on an Order of Release on Recognizance with conditions including ATD monitoring and regular ICE reporting. On April 15, 2026, he was arrested by ICE and detained at Golden State Annex Detention Facility in McFarland, California. The government argued his detention was mandatory under expedited removal procedures under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2), but provided no justification or due process hearing. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California granted Kumar's habeas corpus petition, finding that his re-detention without a pre-deprivation hearing violated the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The court ordered Kumar's immediate release and enjoined respondents from re-detaining him unless they provide seven days' notice and hold a bond hearing before a neutral arbiter where the government must demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he is a flight risk or danger to the community.

Colombian woman detained after DUI arrest challenges mandatory detention order

Apr 15, 2026California City, CAColombia

Edna Lizeth Medina Martinez is a Colombian citizen who entered the United States without inspection on March 7, 2023, near Lukeville, Arizona. She was issued a Notice to Appear for removal proceedings on March 8, 2023, and enrolled in the Alternatives to Detention program on March 9, 2023, where she was released on her own recognizance. On April 5, 2026, she was arrested for driving under the influence by the California Highway Patrol. On April 15, 2026, she reported to a regularly scheduled ICE check-in and was detained for violating ATD program guidelines by having a criminal arrest. She is currently detained at the California City Detention Facility. Medina Martinez filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her detention as a violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, arguing the government's claim of mandatory detention under expedited removal procedures is unlawful. The federal court granted her petition and ordered respondents to provide her with an individualized bond hearing before an immigration judge within 14 days, where the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that she is a flight risk or danger to the community.

El Salvadoran with CAT protection re-detained without notice after 7 years of compliance

Apr 14, 2026Los Angeles, CAEl Salvador

Brayan Alexander Lopez-Rivas is a native and citizen of El Salvador who entered the United States in 2019 after fleeing persecution and torture. He was apprehended near the San Ysidro Port of Entry and expressed immediate fear of return. In August 2019, an Immigration Judge granted him withholding of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT), finding he faced torture if returned to El Salvador due to false gang affiliation accusations by Salvadoran authorities. Lopez-Rivas was released on an Order of Supervision and faithfully complied with all conditions for nearly seven years, attending every ICE check-in, obtaining continuous employment authorization, working legally since 2021, and living in California with his partner and their seven-year-old daughter. On April 14, 2026, he voluntarily appeared for his routine ICE check-in in Los Angeles but was re-detained without any pre-deprivation notice, hearing, or explanation of the basis for detention. He was transferred to Adelanto ICE Processing Center and then moved out of jurisdiction to El Paso, Texas without required notice. DHS issued notice of intent to remove him to Mexico, a third country not designated in his original removal order. On May 7, 2026, the federal court granted his temporary restraining order (TRO), ordering his immediate release under previous supervision conditions and enjoining his removal to any third country without notice and opportunity to be heard on fear-based claims.

Deported Livermore father's last legal hope rests with Ninth Circuit appeal

Apr 14, 2026Livermore, CAMexico

Miguel Lopez, who lived in the U.S. for over 27 years, was deported to Mexico in 2025 after appearing at a San Francisco courthouse for a routine immigration check-in. A federal judge dismissed his civil case on April 3, 2026, finding it time-barred under the six-year statute of limitations, but Lopez's attorney plans to appeal to the Ninth Circuit. Judge Trina Thompson acknowledged in her decision the "bureaucratic labyrinth" of immigration law and the "generational trauma" the ruling will cause Lopez's family. The appeal represents his remaining legal pathway to return to his wife and three children.

Mexican Businessman Rafael Zaga Tawil Detained by ICE in Florida

Apr 14, 2026Moore Haven, FLMexico

ICE detained Rafael Zaga Tawil, a Mexican businessman, at Glades County Detention Center in Florida on April 13, 2026. Mexican authorities are seeking him in connection with a $294 million housing fraud scheme involving the National Workers' Housing Fund Institute (Infonavit), along with allegations of organized crime and money laundering. The fraud involved contracts signed in 2014 with the private company Telra Realty that were terminated in 2017, after which the institute authorized an illegal indemnity payment of over 5 billion pesos. Mexican prosecutors may request his extradition for prosecution.

ICE detains former Brazilian intelligence official Alexandre Ramagem

Apr 14, 2026Orlando, FLBrazil

Alexandre Ramagem, 53, former head of Brazilian intelligence, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on April 14, 2026, following his flight from Brazil. Ramagem was convicted in September 2024 for his role in a coup conspiracy with former President Jair Bolsonaro, including charges of armed criminal association, attempted coup d'état, and attempted violent abolition of the rule of law, and was sentenced to 16 years in prison. He had entered the United States using a diplomatic passport and was living in exile in Florida when taken into custody following a traffic stop. Brazilian authorities formally requested his extradition in December 2024, and the arrest resulted from collaboration between U.S. and Brazilian law enforcement. He reportedly has a pending asylum request under review.

Over 300 arrests from immigration sweeps dismissed or acquitted due to contradictory evidence

Apr 14, 2026Los Angeles, CA

ProPublica and FRONTLINE investigated more than 300 arrests of protesters and bystanders during Trump administration immigration enforcement sweeps in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Charlotte. Over one-third of cases were dismissed, acquitted at trial, or never prosecuted. Video evidence and other documentation repeatedly contradicted officer statements, and prosecutors struggled to substantiate charges such as assaulting federal officers or interfering with law enforcement. Federal agents, largely inexperienced in crowd control, made widespread arrests that ultimately failed legal scrutiny.

US citizen detained by ICE at airport, transferred to Wisconsin jail, faces defamation lawsuit

Apr 14, 2026Dodge County, WITurkey

Sundas Naqvi, a 28-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE agents at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on March 5, 2026, after returning from Turkey. She claimed a 43-hour ordeal involving transfer to Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin and was released early Saturday morning with a dead phone. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt denied having any record of her at the facility, while DHS disputed her account by releasing surveillance footage showing secondary screening lasted less than an hour. In April 2026, Sheriff Schmidt filed a million-dollar defamation lawsuit against Naqvi, characterizing her detention claims as false and part of a "romantic scam" with her boyfriend. Naqvi's attorney provided location data and requested release of additional surveillance footage.

Venezuelan citizen detained by ICE in Minnesota after living in U.S. since 2023

Apr 13, 2026Lakeville, MNVenezuela

Cesar A.S., a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. without inspection in September 2023 and was released on recognizance, was arrested by ICE in Lakeville, Minnesota on April 13, 2026. He challenged his mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) through a habeas corpus petition, arguing he should be eligible for bond under § 1226(a). The court denied his petition, ruling that under Eighth Circuit precedent, noncitizens present in the U.S. who have not been admitted are necessarily "seeking admission" and subject to mandatory detention.

Colombian Man Detained Without Warrant During ICE Check-in in Baltimore

Apr 13, 2026Baltimore, MDColombia

Carlos Julio Medina Garcia, a 56-year-old Colombian citizen who had been granted withholding of removal, was detained without a warrant by ICE officers in Baltimore on March 31, 2026, when he reported for a scheduled check-in. He had been complying with supervised release and had a home visit scheduled for April 1, but ICE instructed him to report in-person on March 31 instead. The court granted his temporary restraining order motion and ordered his immediate release, finding ICE violated his due process rights. Jose Manuel Garcia Salamanca was placed in removal proceedings in August 2023 and charged with inadmissibility for entering the United States without inspection. He was released from immigration custody on an Order of Recognizance but was subsequently arrested by immigration authorities and is currently detained at the Adelanto ICE Detention Facility. The court granted his temporary restraining order requiring an individualized bond hearing within seven days.

Immigration detainees held days after judge orders release

Apr 13, 2026Denver, CO

An immigration attorney reports that approximately 80% of his clients granted bond by a judge are held for days beyond their legal release date by ICE. The case of Deonicio Castillo, a Colorado resident detained in January 2026, exemplifies the pattern—he was held six days after a judge granted his $2,500 bond. The attorney argues the delays violate constitutional rights and represent a departure from prior practice where bond releases typically occurred within hours.

Settlement beneficiary detained five months despite legal status, ICE violates separation agreement

Apr 13, 2026LouisianaHonduras

A 23-year-old Honduran man granted legal status and work authorization under a federal court settlement for families separated by the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy was arrested by ICE in October 2025 after Louisiana wildlife officers reported him for target shooting in a protected area. Despite possessing valid immigration documents and parole status, he was detained for over five months and issued a deportation order on January 6, 2026. At least 25 other people with similar legal protections have been detained or deported by ICE in recent months. The government has also imposed new $1,000-per-person fees and canceled contracts with legal service providers, violating the terms of the federal settlement agreement. The ACLU filed a motion for his release on April 1, 2026.

Ukrainian detainee denied psychiatric medications, loses 46 pounds during hunger strike in ICE custody

Apr 12, 2026Miami, FLUkraine

Andriy Shepitsen, a 46-year-old Ukrainian man, has been detained in ICE custody since December 2025 at Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami. Despite being prescribed medications for bipolar disorder, major depression, and ADHD, detention staff denied him these drugs for over four months. In February 2026, Shepitsen began a hunger strike to protest detention conditions, which lasted 60 days and resulted in a 46-pound weight loss, causing him to develop life-threatening hypotensive shock and requiring hospitalization. He reported suicidal thoughts multiple times during his detention. Advocacy groups including Amnesty International USA and the ACLU of Florida demanded emergency medical intervention and his release.

Army staff sergeant's wife detained at military base while adjusting immigration status through marriage

Apr 12, 2026LouisianaHonduras

Annie Yaritza Ramos Alvarado, a 22-year-old Honduran-born immigrant who arrived in the U.S. as a toddler in 2005, was detained by ICE agents on April 2, 2026, at Fort Polk military base in Louisiana while attempting to complete paperwork to move in with her spouse, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Matthew Blank, 23, whom she had recently married. Ramos was a college student with no criminal history who had applied for DACA status in 2020, though her application was never processed. She was working with a lawyer to adjust her immigration status through marriage, a process that typically allows spouses of U.S. citizens to obtain legal permanent residency. She had been subject to an outstanding removal order issued in 2005 after her family missed an immigration court hearing when she was 22 months old. After being held for nearly a week at an ICE detention facility in Basile, Louisiana, Ramos was released on April 7 and ordered to wear a GPS monitor while removal proceedings continue.

Judge halts DHS coercive advisals pressuring undocumented children to self-deport

Apr 11, 2026Los Angeles, CAGuatemala

A federal judge in Los Angeles ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop using coercive language to pressure unaccompanied immigrant children to self-deport, ruling the practice violated a 40-year-old court mandate. Beginning in September 2025, DHS had advised detained minors they would face prolonged detention if they did not leave the U.S. and threatened to prosecute their sponsors. The judge rejected the government's request to end the longstanding safeguards protecting children's due process rights, citing language that "disturbingly mirrors" coercion documented in a 1985 case that established these protections.

Venezuelan emergency medicine resident detained at airport en route to asylum interview

Apr 10, 2026McAllen, TXVenezuela

Dr. Rubeliz Bolívar, a Venezuelan emergency medicine resident at South Texas Health System in McAllen, Texas, was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at McAllen International Airport on Saturday morning while traveling with her 5-year-old U.S. citizen daughter to California for a scheduled asylum case appointment. Dr. Bolívar holds a valid work permit through 2030 and has an active asylum case and pending green card application. She was transferred to ICE custody at El Valle Detention Center. CBP stated she had overstayed her visa since 2017. Her daughter was placed in the care of a relative. Dr. Bolívar missed an asylum interview appointment her husband, Milenko Faria, was scheduled to attend. ACEP and EMRA have advocated for her release and called for a national-interest exemption for physicians.

Noncitizen Re-detained After DUI Conviction Without Bond Hearing

Apr 10, 2026

Enrique Morales Reyes, a noncitizen previously released on bond, was re-detained by ICE on April 10, 2026, following notification that he had been convicted of driving under the influence on December 3, 2025. Reyes had a prior DUI arrest in 2012 and was arrested again for DUI on June 14, 2024. The court ordered that Respondents provide Reyes a bond hearing within fourteen days before an immigration judge, with the government bearing the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he is a flight risk or danger to public safety. If no hearing is provided within fourteen days, Reyes must be immediately released on the same terms as his previous release.

Judge orders DHS to return 20-year-old with special legal status deported to Honduras

Apr 10, 2026Raleigh, NCHonduras

José Eliezer Martinez-Andino, a 20-year-old Honduran with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), was detained by ICE in March while driving through Montana and coerced into signing voluntary departure forms. He was deported to Honduras on April 10 despite having SIJS and deferred action status that should have protected him from removal. A federal judge ordered DHS to return him to the U.S., finding he was denied due process and not allowed access to his attorney for over 10 days.

Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Holder Detained by Immigration Authorities

Apr 10, 2026Adelanto, CA

Jose David Luis Paraiso, who has resided in the United States since he was 14 years old, was detained by immigration authorities on April 10, 2026 and held at the Adelanto Detention Facility. ICE charged him with being inadmissible as someone who entered without inspection, despite having an approved Form I-360 for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status with a current priority date. The court granted his habeas corpus petition and ordered he be given an individualized bond hearing within seven days.

Four men deported to Eswatini win court order to meet lawyers after 9-month denial

Apr 10, 2026Eswatini

Four men from Cuba, Yemen, Laos, and Vietnam were deported by the U.S. to Eswatini in July 2025 under the Trump administration's third-country deportation program, despite having no connection to the country. As part of a $5.1 million agreement between the U.S. and Eswatini to accept deported migrants who cannot easily be returned to their home countries, the men were held at a maximum-security prison and denied in-person legal counsel for nine months. After the Eswatini government appealed a lower court's decision granting them access to a lawyer, the Eswatini Supreme Court ruled in April 2026 that the men have the right to meet with legal counsel, rejecting government claims that they showed no interest in representation. The men had completed their U.S. prison sentences but remained detained in Eswatini without being charged with any crime there.

Ten Indian nationals indicted in Massachusetts visa fraud and staged robbery scheme

Apr 10, 2026MassachusettsIndia

A federal grand jury in Boston indicted 10 Indian nationals for conspiring to stage armed robberies of convenience stores, liquor stores, and fast food restaurants to help store clerks falsely claim victim status on U visa applications. The defendants, most of whom were residing unlawfully in the United States, face up to five years in prison and deportation. The investigation stems from an earlier case against organizer Rambhai Patel and driver Balwinder Singh, both convicted in May 2025 for carrying out at least six staged robberies beginning in March 2023.

Federal officials detain, deport people protected by family separation settlement

Apr 10, 2026

Federal officials have detained or deported at least 25 people whose families were granted temporary legal status under a 2023 court settlement stemming from the Trump administration's 2017 family separation policy. The government has violated key terms of the settlement by imposing a $1,000 per-person fee, stopping payments to contractors assisting with family reunification, and detaining and deporting individuals who were supposed to be protected under the court order.

Asylum seeker detained in New Hampshire despite pending case

Apr 10, 2026New Hampshire, NH

Malunda Destino has been detained by ICE in New Hampshire since August 2025 while his asylum case is pending. A federal court ordered him to receive an individualized bond hearing due to due process concerns. Destino has been separated from his newborn son and family, and ICE attempted to deport him but a stay was obtained after community fundraising paid for appellate representation. Destino has also reported degrading treatment by ICE agents while in detention.

Colombian asylum applicant detained at USCIS interview, separated from family

Apr 9, 2026Tustin, CAColombia

Nelson Gustavo Medina Ardila, a Colombian national who entered the United States in 2022, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 9, 2026, at a USCIS office in Tustin, California while attending an interview for his pending asylum application. Petitioner had been living in Compton, California with his girlfriend and their child and had previously been appearing for immigration court hearings before those were terminated. He was held virtually incommunicado, denied contact with family and counsel for two days, and permitted only one 15-minute phone call with his attorney. The court found that his arrest without notice or a pre-deprivation hearing violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and his Fifth Amendment due process rights. On April 20, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted his habeas corpus petition and ordered his immediate release without conditions, finding that Petitioner had developed a substantial liberty interest in remaining free based on his four years of residence in the United States and his family connections.

Venezuelan man detained by ICE despite withholding of removal grant

Apr 9, 2026Venezuela

Dayerlin Serrano Ordonez, a Venezuelan citizen who entered the U.S. in 2023, was granted withholding of removal to Venezuela in February 2025. On April 9, 2026, he was detained by ICE during a routine check-in. His wife was informed that authorities intended to remove him to Africa, despite his withholding protection. The court issued a habeas petition order requiring respondents to show cause why the petition should not be granted and ordered advance notice of any removal.

17-year-old detained at Target, judge finds ICE arrested him solely based on race

Apr 9, 2026Richfield, MN

A 17-year-old Hispanic minor was detained by ICE agents at a Target store in Richfield, Minnesota, during Operation Metro Surge. Federal Judge Eric Tostrud concluded that the minor was detained solely because of his race or ethnicity, without reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The incident is part of an ongoing ACLU lawsuit challenging ICE's racial profiling practices in Minnesota.

CUNY graduate arrested on way to train in Hempstead, included in racial profiling lawsuit

Apr 9, 2026Hempstead, NY

A 24-year-old Hispanic man and City University of New York graduate was arrested by federal agents on his way to the Long Island Rail Road in Hempstead. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The incident is part of a class action lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting immigrants in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

Hispanic man arrested entering apartment building in Brooklyn, sues over racial profiling

Apr 9, 2026Brooklyn, NY

A 36-year-old Hispanic man was arrested by federal agents while entering his apartment building in Bushwick, Brooklyn, after coming home from work. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The incident is part of a class action lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting immigrants in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

Man arrested while watching dominos in Staten Island, NYCLU files racial profiling lawsuit

Apr 9, 2026Staten Island, NY

Juan Carlos Quintero, 41, was arrested by federal agents in three unmarked cars while watching a game of dominos in Staten Island after saying he did not have an ID. He was released from federal custody after lawyers filed an emergency lawsuit challenging his arrest. The NYCLU, Make the Road New York, and the Legal Aid Society filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of eight immigrants, alleging that ICE is unlawfully arresting people in New York based solely on race or ethnicity.

Mexican National Detained by ICE After Reporting to Santa Ana Office

Apr 9, 2026Santa Ana, CAMexico

Javier Rodriguez Gonzalez, a Mexican national who entered the U.S. as a child in 1989, was arrested by ICE on April 9, 2026, after reporting to the Santa Ana Enforcement and Removal Operations office. He is married with six U.S. citizen children and has a pending application for adjustment of status. The court granted his request for an individualized bond hearing while denying his request for immediate release.

Mother of U.S. citizens detained at immigration fingerprinting appointment

Apr 9, 2026

Hilda Sucely R.M.D.E., mother of two U.S. citizen children who lived in the U.S. for nearly 25 years, was arrested by immigration authorities on April 9, 2026, when she appeared for a fingerprinting appointment in connection with seeking relief under the Violence Against Women Act. She had been released on bond after entering without inspection in 2003 and had an in absentia removal order from September 2003 that she never received notice of. The court ordered her immediate release from immigration detention, finding violations of federal regulations requiring pre-deprivation process.

Morristown boy with cerebral palsy faces deportation as family races to fund legal defense

Apr 9, 2026Morristown, NJEcuador

Diego Cabrera Gonzalez, a 9-year-old with cerebral palsy, and his family from Ecuador face possible deportation after an immigration hearing scheduled for later in April. The family came to the U.S. in 2023 seeking medical care for Diego, who has undergone four surgeries and has improved significantly since arriving. Their legal case was jeopardized when they hired someone who failed to properly file asylum paperwork, but they have since secured new legal representation and are fundraising to cover legal fees.

Washington wins court fight to inspect Tacoma ICE detention center

Apr 9, 2026Tacoma, WA

Washington state won a federal court ruling in November 2025 allowing health inspections at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, operated by private contractor GEO Group. However, state inspectors have been denied entry nine times since 2023, including after the court ruling. Advocacy groups report over 3,500 detainee complaints including concerns about religious accommodations during Ramadan, food quality, and medical care.

Man detained by ICE challenges confinement through habeas corpus petition

Apr 9, 2026Conroe, TX

Mahadin Hussein Nour is currently detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Joe Corley Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. Represented by counsel, Nour filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 challenging his continued confinement and a motion for a temporary restraining order and/or preliminary injunction seeking his immediate release pending judgment on the merits of his petition. On April 3, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas issued an Order to Answer requiring the respondent (the Warden) to file an answer or appropriate responsive pleading and response to the motion by April 17, 2026. The petitioner was given ten days to respond to any answer or dispositive motion and to the respondent's response to the motion for temporary restraining order.

Chinese Woman Detained Following Routine Immigration Check Seeks Release

Apr 9, 2026Adelanto, CAChina

Haiyang Wang, a petitioner detained at Desert View Annex Detention Facility following a routine immigration check, filed for immediate release from custody through a habeas corpus petition. She argued her ongoing detention constitutes constitutional deprivation and feared potential transfer to another facility would impair her access to counsel. The court denied her emergency application for temporary restraining order but ordered the government to show cause why habeas relief should not be granted under an expedited briefing schedule.

Detainee challenges ICE classification and mandatory detention without individualized assessment

Apr 9, 2026Juneau, Wisconsin

Mouhamed Nasim Asmi Toloza is being detained at the Dodge County Detention Facility in Juneau, Wisconsin by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention, arguing he is properly categorized under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) rather than § 1225(b)(2), and that his continued detention without an individualized assessment of flight risk or danger to the community violates the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Fifth Amendment's Due Process Clause, and the Fourth Amendment's Search and Seizure Clause. Along with his petition, Toloza filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to prevent his transfer to another detention facility during the litigation. On April 9, 2026, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin denied the motion for temporary restraining order, finding that Toloza failed to make a specific showing of immediate and irreparable harm before the respondent could be heard in opposition, beyond the harm inherent in being detained unlawfully. The denial was issued without prejudice, allowing Toloza to renew the request if warranted.

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