Human Impact Project

Joey Martinez, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and U.S. citizen, was mistakenly detained by CBP officers aboard a Carnival Cruise Lines ship in Miami after being identified by name match with someone else who had outstanding warrants. Despite only his name matching and his other identifying information not aligning with the warrant, Martinez was forcefully removed from his stateroom, handcuffed, and held in an immigration cell until he could verify his identity with official documents. He was eventually released without charges, compensation, or an apology, and Carnival Cruise Lines did not inform him of the name issue before the ship's arrival despite allegedly being aware of it.

A 10-year-old girl and her mother were intercepted by ICE agents while driving to a school bus stop in suburban Minneapolis and flown to a detention facility in Texas. The child, Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, and her mother Rosa were detained despite the family having pending asylum appeals. Over the following month, at least five other children from the same school district were also sent to the Dilley detention center in Texas.

ICE took a 5-year-old girl and her mother into custody after Austin police responded to a disturbance call in the Oak Hill community on January 5th. Officers identified the mother had an ICE administrative warrant and notified federal authorities who took both into custody. The family says the child is a U.S. citizen and reports no effort was made to contact family or involve Child Protective Services before the ICE custody transfer.

Jean Wilson Brutus, a Haitian immigrant, was abducted and transferred to a hospital where he died. A nurse stated it appeared he fell down stairs. ICE did not notify his family of his death for a week.

Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian man, was transferred to Delaney Hall ICE detention center in Newark on December 11, 2025. He showed no signs of distress during intake and had no known cardiovascular issues. He died less than 24 hours later. ICE delayed publicly acknowledging his death for a full week. This was the first death at Delaney Hall since it reopened under a contract with private prison company GEO Group.

Dinah Marie Chollet, a South Carolina restaurant co-owner, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor after joining a private group chat with Summerville High School students planning a walkout against ICE. Chollet stated she joined to express support for the students' activism, shared safety information, and then left the chat. She was arrested on February 12 and released on $1,000 bond, with an initial court appearance scheduled for April 14.

Juan Nicolas, a two-month-old baby, is the youngest person currently in ICE custody and is being held with his mother Mireya López Sánchez at a family detention center in Dulles, Texas. Due to poor conditions including rotten food and contaminated water, the mother stopped producing milk and the baby became sick. The child suffered a medical emergency but has not been seen by a doctor as there is none on site and immigration officials refuse to send him to a hospital.

Maria was detained and deported within 48 hours of a scheduled appointment without her family's knowledge. Activist group Somos Long Beach alleges her case is part of a pattern where children are used as leverage for deportations. The organization is calling for legal representation support and demanding the abolition of ICE.

Geraldo Lunas Campos, a 55-year-old Cuban immigrant held in solitary confinement at Camp East Montana detention facility in El Paso, Texas, died on January 3, 2026, after an altercation with guards. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide caused by asphyxia due to neck and torso compression. The medical examiner's ruling classified the death as a homicide in a case involving an ICE detainee, with witness accounts and evidence indicating guards applied pressure to his neck until he lost consciousness.

The Trump administration is seeking to deport two men who witnessed the January 3 death of Geraldo Lunas Campos at a Texas detention camp. The eyewitness accounts of the two men differ from the Department of Homeland Security's official account of the incident.

About a dozen protesters attempted to block federal ICE agents from leaving with a detainee outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in Durango on Friday. Protesters linked arms and sat in front of the ICE office driveway to prevent vehicles from departing. Federal agents responded by removing protesters and using pepper spray against them.

Deportations of Brazilian citizens from the United States reached a historic high in 2025, with more than 3 million citizens forced to return to Brazil, nearly double the 2024 total. The Ministry of Human Rights confirmed a 99.8% increase in deportations compared to the previous year. The sharp increase reflects the zero-tolerance immigration policy adopted by President Donald Trump, which has intensified enforcement actions against undocumented immigrants.

A federal judge ruled that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) illegally detained Jorge Eliecer Gonzalez Ochoa in Iowa on December 23 because the agency had not yet issued a required "Notice to Appear" document. The judge found that ICE later attempted to cover up the procedural violation by mailing the notice rather than serving it in person. The court ordered an individualized bond hearing within seven days but declined to order immediate release.

Nawras Maklad, a Syrian citizen who entered the U.S. without inspection in January 2022 and filed for asylum, is detained at the ICE Detention Center in Adelanto, California. An immigration judge denied his bond on March 27, 2026, finding him a flight risk. The court denied his ex parte application for a temporary restraining order to challenge his continued detention.

ICE agents arrested Cesar Ramos-Alcala, 48, and Marcelino Tapia-Lucas, 25, outside courtrooms at the Ridgedale Service Center in Minnetonka on Monday. ICE alleged that Ramos-Alcala is in Minnesota illegally and that Tapia-Lucas entered the U.S. illegally at age 16 and has prior arrests. The arrests occurred in a secure, controlled courthouse environment.

Pedro Gutierrez, 43, a Durango resident for 22 years, was arrested by ICE agents on New Year's Eve while driving home from the gym. He was pulled over blocks from his home and taken into custody at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora. Protesters gathered at the ICE field office in Durango following another detention in Mancos on Friday, and federal agents used pepper spray against demonstrators.

A Houston man who is a third-generation U.S. citizen says he was stopped by ICE agents on January 1 while driving to work near Veterans Memorial Drive and Beltway 8. The man, David Flores, believes he was racially profiled based on his work truck and was surrounded by eight ICE agents in multiple vehicles. After showing his passport and refusing to provide his Social Security number, the agents left abruptly when Flores began recording the encounter.

Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias were detained by ICE in January while returning from preschool. After nearly two weeks in a Texas detention center, they were released following a federal judge's order. The parents report the child is now traumatized and regularly sees a psychologist. The family is seeking asylum, though an immigration judge terminated their claim, which their lawyer has appealed.

Sixteen-year-old Sebastian, an asylum-seeker from Ecuador, was detained by ICE in Minneapolis in early January while driving alone. He was sent to a Christian youth shelter in Michigan operated by Bethany Christian Services rather than a standard detention center. Federal authorities lost track of his whereabouts for over a week while his family searched for him. His attorney had to conduct investigative work to locate him and secure his release.

Oudone Lothirath, a 57-year-old Laotian refugee with advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma, was detained by ICE in January 2026 during an enforcement surge in Minnesota and transferred to a facility in El Paso, Texas. While in custody for 10 days, he missed multiple chemotherapy sessions and received no medical care for his cancer, diabetes, and heart condition. After his release, his cancer had spread to his bone marrow and he was too weak to resume treatment; he is now receiving hospice care with a prognosis of six to nine months.

Dmitry K., a Ukrainian national admitted under the Uniting for Ukraine program, was detained by ICE on January 1, 2026, despite lawful entry, a pending re-parole application, no criminal history, and serious medical conditions. His detention separated him from his wife and young daughter in Minneapolis, leaving his family without income or clear resources.

Activists point to fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officials in Minneapolis and two killings in San Diego under CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott's watch. The incidents share similarities including victims' positions when attacked, officials' claims of aggression later questioned, and CBP's involvement in evidence handling. Activists note patterns they have identified in federal law enforcement investigations.

Jose Sanchez was detained by ICE in November 2025 and deported to Mexico despite having a pending citizenship case. He died in January 2026 while attempting to cross the Rio Grande to return to his family in San Antonio. His partner, Tiffany Barrera, is a U.S. citizen and mother of five.

Five-year-old Liam Ramos was detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center near San Antonio after ICE arrested him and his father in Minneapolis. The facility documents conditions including medical care, sanitation, and sleep arrangements for children. The facility, which was closed under Biden but reopened by Trump, currently houses between 900 and 1,400 people including infants and pregnant women.

A Venezuelan trafficking survivor identified as 'Flora' was detained by ICE during a routine check-in in January 2026 and separated from her two young children. Flora alleges she was subjected to sexual assault, forced labor, and physical abuse after arriving in the U.S. in 2023. Her legal team filed a habeas corpus petition in February 2026, arguing her detention violates the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and reports indicate at least 41 trafficking survivors have filed similar petitions since early 2025.

The owner of La Playa Taco Shop, a decades-old Mexican food institution in San Diego's Pacific Beach, was deported following detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

An ICE agent driving into the Crosspoint check-in facility in San Antonio pointed a gun at two community members from Comrade Coffee Collective who were filming and distributing aid outside the facility. One volunteer said hello to the agent from a distance, prompting him to reach for his gun and point it at her despite her backing away, then at another volunteer further away.

Federal prosecutors under the Trump administration have filed charges against multiple ICE protesters. Recent cases in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. have resulted in acquittals and dismissals. Judges cited civil rights violations, credibility issues with law enforcement testimony, and improper detention conditions that prevented defendants from accessing counsel.

Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino stated to Fox News that his agents have arrested U.S. citizens on charges of assaulting federal officers. The article also details allegations of excessive force by Border Patrol and ICE agents, including a November incident in Chicago involving Bovino during 'Operation Midway Blitz.'

Immigration officials detained two U.S. citizen siblings in a Mission Bay parking lot in late December. The siblings were held in the basement of the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building for most of the day before being released to their father. The family believes the incident was a case of racial profiling and reports that officers used physical force during the arrest.

A Chicago Tribune analysis found that of 106 people arrested during Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement operation, only nine faced pending felony charges, with the majority having charges dropped or never filed. Federal judges questioned agents' credibility. One judge ruled on the use of force against citizens during the operation.

Vilma Palacios was detained by immigration agents in Belle Chasse days after graduating from LSU nursing school in Spring. The incident was reported on an Instagram post by fox8nola with a link to more information.

Brayan Stiven Martinez Cardona was re-detained by immigration authorities on December 29, 2026, after having been previously released on bond or conditional parole. The petitioner challenged his ongoing immigration detention through a habeas corpus petition, arguing that his re-detention without a pre-deprivation bond hearing violated due process. The court granted his petition and ordered his immediate release with the same conditions he had prior to his December 29 detention.

Asif Amin Cheema, a 63-year-old Pakistani restaurant owner in Humboldt Park, lost his appeal to stop a deportation order when the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled his removal could proceed. Cheema has been held in an Indiana detention center since September 2025 and was previously scheduled to be removed but collapsed before boarding a flight at O'Hare Airport. His family is exploring remaining legal options.

David Courvelle, a former contract detention officer at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center in Basile, Louisiana, pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a Nicaraguan detainee in federal custody. Between May and July 2025, Courvelle engaged in multiple sexual encounters with the detainee inside the facility, including in a janitorial closet, while enlisting other detainees to act as lookouts. He also smuggled gifts into the facility to maintain the relationship. The case was uncovered when investigators obtained recordings of phone calls between Courvelle and the detainee, prompting his resignation.

Malik Velimetov, 21, born in Turkmenistan but raised in Key West, was taken into custody by US Border Patrol on December 28, 2025, while traveling with his family on US 1 in Marathon. He was detained for a month at Florida's immigration detention center in the Everglades due to his pending asylum case and was released with an electronic monitor. His family, including his parents and 17-year-old sister, were also taken into custody and separated from him.

Arturo Rafael Brito Goncalvez, a 22-year-old Venezuelan pilot, was detained by ICE during a scheduled immigration appointment in Westerville, Ohio. His family claims he entered the country legally in 2023 with valid visas and employment authorization. He is fighting deportation and fears returning to Venezuela due to political persecution.

Federal agents arrested a daycare teacher in Chicago in front of parents and children, with witnesses reporting she was violently taken away despite having a work permit. In a separate incident in Los Angeles, immigration agents arrested a U.S. citizen during a Home Depot raid and drove away in his car with his 1-year-old daughter still inside before the child was retrieved by family.

Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE in Baltimore and transferred to Louisiana. A Maryland judge ruled she cannot be removed. She presented a birth certificate and other citizenship documentation. The administration disputed her citizenship claim.

A video circulating on social media shows an ICE agent using force on a pregnant woman in Minneapolis. Witnesses can be heard shouting that the woman is pregnant as the agent drags her.

An unconfirmed ICE sighting was reported on July 3, 2025 in Anaheim, California. According to the alert, ICE agents in a white van were observed circling a Target parking lot and a nearby Quick Quack car wash, with reports indicating they picked up several people. The agents were reported to be moving southbound along Euclid Street toward a 7-Eleven gas station.

Anne Arundel County Police contradicted the Department of Homeland Security's account of a Christmas Eve ICE shooting in Glen Burnie, Maryland. Police stated that one of the individuals identified as a passenger in the van was actually already in ICE custody in a separate vehicle at the time of the shooting, contradicting DHS's account. ICE agents fired at a white van after the driver, Tiago Alexandre Sousa-Martins, allegedly attempted to run them over during a targeted immigration enforcement operation.

Flor Ivet Vargas-Loya, a DACA recipient and mother of two U.S. citizens, was detained by ICE on Christmas Eve while shopping. Vargas-Loya was waiting for her DACA renewal to be processed and had no new criminal charges against her. Arizona elected officials and immigrant advocates responded to the detention.

ICE agents stopped a U.S. citizen named Said Mohamed during a traffic stop and demanded he prove his citizenship. Mohamed repeatedly asked why he was being stopped. Agents cited the vehicle's possible connection to individuals without legal status. After showing his ID, Mohamed was allowed to leave. ICE agents confronted a woman outside her home and demanded she provide ID to prove U.S. citizenship. When questioned, agents claimed to have a warrant for an unspecified target at the address but refused to present it.

ICE has detained more than 100 people in small, cramped hold rooms inside the federal courthouse in Central Islip since January 2025, according to a Newsday analysis of federal data. Detainees reported sleeping on floors next to open toilets, being packed so tightly they could not lie down, lacking access to showers and medical care, with some held for up to 72 hours despite the rooms being designed for brief single-person detention.

Fatima Issela Velazquez-Antonio, 23, was detained by Customs and Border Patrol agents at her job site in Raleigh in November and transferred to a Georgia federal detention facility. She was released from ICE custody and returned to North Carolina on December 23, 2025. Velazquez-Antonio, who has lived legally in the U.S. since age 14 fleeing gang violence in Honduras, has valid work authorization and no criminal record, and her case remains pending.

Donna Hughes Brown, an Irish citizen and permanent U.S. resident, was released from ICE detention after nearly five months. She had been detained in July due to two misdemeanor charges from over 10 years ago for writing bad checks. Her case gained national attention after her husband testified before Congress and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem promised a review.

Marcos Flores, bassist for local band Summer of Peril, was detained by ICE on December 23 while attempting to pick up a visitor's badge at Colorado Springs Air Force Academy. Flores, who was brought to the U.S. as a young child from Mexico, has been held at Aurora ICE Detention Center with his bond request denied despite community support and legal efforts. His case was affected by a federal policy memo reversing protections against no-bond detentions.

A federal judge in Charlotte ruled that ICE violated a man's due process rights by unlawfully detaining Mostafa Said, an Egyptian asylum seeker, during a routine check-in. The judge ordered immigration officials to hold a bond hearing for Said within 48 hours. Said had been released on humanitarian parole after entering through the U.S.-Mexico border and was arrested in Charlotte and transferred to Stewart Detention Center in Georgia.

Donna Hughes-Brown, a green card holder who has lived in the U.S. since age 11, was detained by ICE upon returning from a trip to Ireland to visit relatives. She was held for nearly 5 months over two overdrawn checks totaling less than $80 that she had written over 10 years prior. She was released last week and stated she will not visit Ireland again until becoming a full U.S. citizen due to fear of deportation.