Human Impact Project

Petey Feng, a Taiwanese cook who worked at Dallas restaurants, was detained by ICE on November 6, 2025, after an immigration check-in for overstaying his visa since 2010 and a 2023 DWI misdemeanor. He spent 133 days in ICE detention facilities in southwest Texas. Feng was denied voluntary departure and inadvertently signed away his right to appeal. He was deported and arrived in Taiwan in March 2026, where he cared for his aging parents.

Jonathan Caravello, a philosophy lecturer at California State University Channel Islands, entered a not guilty plea in federal court to a felony charge of assaulting an immigration agent with a deadly or dangerous weapon. Caravello was arrested on July 10 during a confrontation between federal agents and activists protesting immigration raids at licensed cannabis facilities in Ventura County. The alleged weapon is a tear gas canister that agents deployed against protesters.

Dennis Quiñonez, a 32-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested during a DHS immigration enforcement operation at a Home Depot parking lot in Cypress Park on November 4, 2025. ICE agents took his 1-year-old daughter into custody during the arrest. The child was subsequently reunited with family members, including her grandmother. Quiñonez was released on bond on November 6, 2025, and reunited with his family. He has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of domestic violence.

On November 5, 2025, ICE agents detained Diana Patricia Santillana Galeano, a teacher at Rayito de Sol Spanish Immersion Early Learning Center in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, during morning drop-off hours. According to DHS, officers conducted a traffic stop that led to a vehicle pursuit ending at the daycare facility. Agents entered and forcibly removed Galeano in front of children and parents, searching the facility. Galeano claimed to have work authorization and a pending asylum case, while DHS identified her as undocumented from Colombia. A federal judge subsequently ruled her mandatory detention illegal and ordered a bond hearing before an immigration judge. The incident prompted a rally of hundreds of community members and local officials demanding ICE stay out of schools and daycares.

An investigation found that ICE staff at the Buffalo Federal Detention facility in Batavia, New York administered inadequate medical treatment to at least a dozen detainees over two years, including cases where serious injuries went untreated, medications were denied or reduced, and necessary appointments were delayed. Specific cases documented include a Nigerian migrant who lost portions of six fingers due to untreated frostbite and a Gambian man who suffered a stroke-like syndrome after going two weeks without heart medications.

An immigrant named Javier experienced severe mobility issues while in ICE detention due to medical neglect. Advocates have called for an end to medical neglect of immigrant detainees.

Federal immigration agents arrested a U.S. citizen in Los Angeles and took control of his vehicle, which contained his one-year-old daughter inside. The agents drove away with the child in the car after detaining the father.

ICE agents arrested Juanita Avila, a 47-year-old legal permanent resident carrying her green card, during a traffic stop in November 2025 without showing a warrant or probable cause. Video evidence of the arrest captured by her daughter became part of a lawsuit challenging ICE's arrest practices. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking ICE from continuing warrantless arrests in Oregon, citing the agency's conduct and systematic violation of constitutional rights.

ICE agents pointed rifles at bystanders and attempted to break down doors while conducting an enforcement action at Salem Walk apartments in unincorporated Northbrook on November 5, 2025. The operation, which lasted approximately 50 minutes and involved over a dozen agents and an armored vehicle, resulted in the arrest of Alan Eduardo Garcia, who had a history of violent convictions. Residents and community members confronted agents and filmed the incident.

ICE conducted arrests at multiple locations in Redmond, Washington on Monday, including at Bear Creek Village shopping center. One incident involved a man being detained outside a Panera Bread, with witnesses reporting that ICE agents broke a truck window and dragged out the occupant without showing a warrant. The Redmond Police Department confirmed it was not informed in advance of the operations and stated it does not participate in immigration enforcement.

According to an Instagram post by L.A. TACO, a Border Patrol agent hit a child in the face with a ball during a raid. The child was subsequently driven away from the scene by Border Patrol but was later reunited with their mother in the afternoon.

Marta Brizeyda Renderos Leiva, a 39-year-old from El Salvador, was arrested by ICE at Salt Lake City International Airport while arriving on a flight. She had a valid work permit approved in 2024 and was unaware of a 2020 deportation order, as the court notice had been sent to an address where she no longer lived. Her attorney states she was detained for months, transferred through multiple facilities, and deported despite having an active appeal pending, leaving behind her four U.S. citizen children.

Daniel Angel Meléndez, an immigrant from El Salvador, was detained by ICE agents on November 4 during a yearly check-in in Cedar Rapids. His wife María Lozano, a U.S. citizen, and family members appealed to U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks at a town hall on November 10 to prevent his deportation. Meléndez has a U.S.-born child and has been in the country since 2017, having applied for asylum based on gang violence threats.

Julio Vargas, a 66-year-old Guatemalan, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol during an immigration raid at El Corredor Salvadoreño in Los Angeles on Sunday. He is being held at Adelanto Detention Center and has reported breathing problems and cramps due to cold conditions, worsened by his existing health conditions and lack of medication. His family is seeking legal assistance but faces financial and resource barriers.

Nazario Radilla Valdovinos, a Mexican citizen, was taken into ICE custody on November 3, 2025 and detained at Adelanto ICE Detention Center pending removal proceedings. ICE issued a custody determination continuing his detention without providing an opportunity for bond or release. The court granted his habeas petition in part, ordering that he receive a bond hearing within seven days under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a).

Berenice Garcia-Hernandez, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE for approximately seven hours after photographing unmarked ICE vehicles near a Chick-fil-A in Gresham. She was documenting the agents' presence to warn her community after seeing a Facebook alert. ICE agents broke her car window and removed her from the vehicle, though no criminal charges had been filed as of the article's publication.

Berenice Garcia-Hernandez, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, was detained by ICE for approximately seven hours after photographing unmarked government vehicles and license plates of immigration agents near a Gresham Chick-fil-A. Garcia-Hernandez had taken the photos after seeing a social media alert about the agents' presence in the area.

Berenice Garcia-Hernandez took action after seeing a Facebook post alerting people to ICE agents' presence near a Gresham Chick-fil-A. The person who posted the alert said he was too scared to photograph the agents' license plates. The Oregonian covered the story.

A federal lawsuit alleges the Trump administration unlawfully deported human trafficking and domestic violence victims despite their pending applications for protective visas. Carmen, a woman who helped get her abusive husband deported and applied for a U-Visa, was deported in July despite valid pending protections and having an 8-year-old son. Upon arrival in her home country, she was confronted by her deported husband.

The City documents five months of immigration enforcement activities at 26 Federal Plaza in New York City, where masked federal agents arrested immigrants in and around immigration courts. A photojournalistic report documents these activities and their effects on affected immigrants during this period.

Ricardo Rodriguez, 53, was arrested by ICE agents on Sunday morning in Melrose Park while riding his bike. Videos show agents placing Rodriguez in a chokehold and striking his head before detaining him. He was brought to Gottlieb Memorial Hospital after complaining of chest pains, where ICE agents restricted family visitation.

Carlos Jimenez, a 25-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot by ICE agents in Ontario on November 2, 2025. According to his lawyers, Jimenez approached the officers to warn them about children gathering at a nearby school bus stop and was shot from behind while attempting to leave after becoming afraid when an agent drew a gun and pepper spray. Federal authorities claim Jimenez reversed his vehicle directly at officers in a threatening manner, and the shots were defensive.

A 37-year-old man named Jose Argueta reported a stolen vehicle to Maryland police in November and was subsequently arrested by ICE at a DC police station. Argueta spent Christmas at an immigrant detention center following the arrest.

Hanne Engan, a Norwegian national with a pending green card application, was arrested by ICE officers at her green card interview in November 2025 after her student visa expired. While detained at Otay Mesa Detention Center for approximately one week, she alleged medical negligence regarding her Type 1 diabetes management, inadequate facility conditions, and discovered her credit card information had been stolen during her custody. ICE and CoreCivic disputed her claims about medical care and facility conditions.

Federal immigration agents, including ICE and Border Patrol personnel, used tear gas, pepper balls, and other riot control weapons against protesters in Chicago and Illinois during Operation Midway Blitz enforcement operations that began September 2, 2025. Video footage documented agents firing munitions directly at demonstrators. A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on October 9 limiting crowd-control tactics, but subsequent court filings alleged violations occurring almost daily. An analysis of 28 protest events found seven instances of riot control weapons use without apparent threats and 19 instances of excessive force.

Paulino Martin San Pedro, a Beaverton resident, was detained by ICE in November and deported to Mexico within days. He was hospitalized shortly after deportation and died of pneumonia at age 53.

U.S. immigration enforcement agents conducted operations across the Midwest resulting in several incidents involving use of force. In Des Plaines, ICE agents tased Edgar Ruiz, a U.S. citizen born in Chicago, in the face outside a 7-Eleven; he was detained for approximately two hours before being released and hospitalized, while his undocumented father remained in ICE custody. In Evanston, a CBP agent was recorded striking a man repeatedly in the head while pinned down during an arrest; DHS stated agents were responding to an aggressive situation involving a vehicle crash and hostile crowd. In Minneapolis, an ICE agent shoved City Council President Elliot Payne from behind while he was filming with state officials. In Eden Prairie, ICE agents detained Jose Gomez and his 13-year-old son Jose; the teenage son was handcuffed and later required medical attention at St. Francis Regional Medical Center for an abnormal heartbeat.

A man, Jose Garcia-Sorto, was shot by an ICE agent near I-17 and Dove Valley Road in Phoenix on Wednesday morning. The ICE agent fired two shots at Garcia-Sorto's vehicle after he allegedly attempted to speed away following an initial traffic stop. Garcia-Sorto's wife reports being unable to obtain information from authorities about his condition, and states he is hospitalized under a different name.

Arthur Berto, a 13-year-old asylum-seeking boy from Brazil, was arrested by Everett, Massachusetts police on suspicion of making a violent threat at school. After his mother arrived to pick him up from the police station, ICE took him to a detention facility without informing her of his location or what would happen to him. According to the police chief, this was the first occurrence of this type in Everett.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents raided an apartment in Lynden, Washington, detaining U.S. citizen Jocelyn Pena for hours while searching for her undocumented partner, Jesus Lopez Ruiz. Pena was detained at work, taken to an unknown location, and held without her phone or vehicle. Lopez Ruiz was arrested on a federal warrant related to an alleged assault of a federal officer stemming from a prior incident where he fled from immigration officials.

Victor Rodriguez Ocampo Sr., 54, owner of La Playa Taco Shop in Mission Beach, was detained by ICE on October 31 outside his National City home. He is being held at Otay Mesa Detention Center while his family operates the restaurant and raises funds for his legal defense. His son stated Rodriguez is in the country without legal status and the family has not yet received a court date or interview date for his case.

During a federal immigration enforcement operation on October 31, 2025, a crash occurred at the intersection of Asbury and Oakton in Evanston when a red vehicle rear-ended a federal agent vehicle. Witnesses reported agents braked suddenly; DHS stated agents were attempting to make a U-turn. Three U.S. citizens were arrested following confrontations at the scene, during which pepper spray was deployed. The incident also involved federal agents targeting workers in nearby Skokie.

Border Patrol agents conducted immigration enforcement raids across Chicago and nearby suburbs on Halloween, detaining multiple individuals. Incidents included pepper-spray deployment in Albany Park, an agent pointing a weapon at protesters in Evanston, and an officer punching a detainee. Three U.S. citizens were arrested for allegedly obstructing the operations, while five Mexican nationals were detained.

Carlos Jimenez, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen and food bank worker with three children, was shot in the shoulder by an ICE officer during a residential enforcement action in Ontario on October 30, 2025. Federal authorities claim Jimenez reversed his vehicle toward officers in a threatening manner, while his attorneys argue he was shot from behind while attempting to leave the scene after warning agents about nearby school children. A bullet remains lodged in his right shoulder. Jimenez was charged with assault on a federal officer but released on bond and has pleaded not guilty. The incident is under investigation by the Department of Homeland Security and FBI.

Armando Garcia Picazo, detained by ICE in August without legal status, was ordered released by federal judge Leonard Strand after being denied bond approved by an immigration judge. Garcia Picazo was held at Woodbury County jail for over two months before filing a habeas corpus lawsuit. He was required to post $6,000 bond and will continue his immigration case on a non-detained docket.

Two employees of SUNY Upstate Medical University were detained by ICE on Wednesday while attending immigration hearings to finalize their legal status. The workers were taken into custody before entering the courtroom and are being held at the Buffalo Federal Detention Facility in Batavia, facing possible deportation. Union officials from CSEA and UUP issued statements regarding ICE's actions.

A 16-year-old boy named Diego had both parents taken in separate ICE raids. After being released from ICE custody, Diego's mother Yolanda shared her account of the experience. The incident was originally covered in November of the previous year.

Rian Andrianzah, an Indonesian national, was arrested by ICE agents while attending what he believed was a routine biometrics appointment in Philadelphia. His arrest occurred while his wife waited in another room, and he was subsequently sent to a Central Pennsylvania detention center where he now faces deportation. The arrest is part of the Trump administration's strategy shift to apprehend green card applicants, asylum seekers, and others engaged in legal immigration processes.

Lonardo Garcia Venegas, 25, was at a construction site in coastal Alabama when immigration agents arrived. Garcia Venegas began filming after his undocumented brother requested a warrant from agents. Agents removed his brother to the ground during the encounter. Garcia Venegas was also taken into custody. Agents checked his REAL ID, which Alabama issues to those legally in the U.S. Garcia Venegas was held handcuffed for more than an hour. His brother was later deported. Garcia Venegas returned to work two weeks later. On a subsequent occasion, an immigration agent encountered Garcia Venegas at a construction site and checked his REAL ID. Agents also held two other workers who had legal status during immigration enforcement activities.

Luisa Rodriguez, mother of a U.S. Marine, was released from ICE custody after nearly three weeks of detention. She and her husband were stopped at Camp Pendleton's gate on September 28 while visiting their daughter. After initial release with ankle monitors, they were taken into custody again at a check-in; her husband was deported to Tijuana the next day while Rodriguez was held at Otay Mesa Detention Center. The family stated they had been in the U.S. for over 30 years and had pending visa applications with work authorization.

Five plainclothes federal agents arrested a 26-year-old barber from Venezuela at Rockstar Fadez barbershop in Brighton Park. One agent had posed as a construction worker and customer earlier that morning without identifying himself as law enforcement. The agents threw the barber to the ground and carried him away in a pickup truck while threatening to detain anyone who intervened, and no warrant was presented before the arrest.

Ruperto Vicens Marquez, a 38-year-old restaurant owner and father of three from Mexico, was detained by ICE after being pulled over on a Sunday morning despite having valid work authorization that does not expire until 2029. Marquez has lived in the U.S. for 18 years and co-owns Emilio's Kitchen in Atlantic Highlands. His community, including the town mayor, rallied to support his release, and his attorney says he should never have been arrested. A detention hearing is scheduled for November 17.

Federal immigration agents arrested two men, Adolfo Felipe Mendoza-Cruz on October 30 and Fabian Pablo Beltran-Flores on November 3, in apparent violation of Washington state law prohibiting immigration enforcement within one mile of courthouses. Mendoza-Cruz was detained in a courthouse parking lot after attending a DUI arraignment, while Beltran-Flores was arrested on a sidewalk outside City Hall after a court appearance. City officials reported both incidents to the Washington State Attorney General's Office.

Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers shot a driver in Ontario on Thursday morning during a vehicle stop. The driver, identified as Carlos Jimenez, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen, was shot in the shoulder after ICE says he reversed his vehicle at officers. Jimenez was not the arrest target and was on his way to work at a food bank when the incident occurred.

A Harrisonburg mother was detained by federal agents on Monday morning while taking her teenage daughter to school. A video of the incident was posted on social media.

Protesters gathered at the Durango ICE Facility after agents detained a father and two children (ages 12 and 15) following a traffic stop. The family possesses valid documentation and an active legal asylum process. During the demonstration, a federal agent allegedly pushed a protester. The City of Durango requested investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which declined the request.

Illinois state representative Hoan Huynh, a Vietnamese refugee, reported being confronted by ICE and Customs and Border Patrol agents who pointed a gun at his head while he monitored immigration enforcement operations on Chicago's North Side. Huynh was documenting the agents' activities and informing residents of their rights when the incident occurred. ICE enforcement operations in Chicago have separated families from their communities. Gerardo Perez's mother was arrested and deported in June.

An unidentified law enforcement officer placed a 57-year-old woman named Franci Stagi in a chokehold and threw her down a grassy embankment during a protest outside an ICE field office in Durango, Colorado on October 28. The incident was recorded on video. Hundreds of protesters had gathered at the location. The officer wore a black balaclava and tactical vest labeled with 'Police' or 'Police HSI' and was not identified as part of any specific law enforcement agency.

ICE agents detained a father and his two children (ages 12 and 15) who were asylum-seekers from Colombia on Monday morning in Durango, Colorado. On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters gathered at the ICE field office. Federal agents used pepper spray and rubber bullets during the gathering. The family was being transferred during the confrontation.

Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam, a 64-year-old man, has been detained by ICE as he fights a decades-old deportation order. He was denied bail and remains in ICE custody awaiting resolution of his case.