Human Impact Project

José Eliezer Martinez-Andino, a 20-year-old Honduran man, was deported to Honduras in April 2026 after being detained while traveling to Seattle, despite holding Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) granted in 2023. He had been living in Raleigh with relatives and is the father of a three-year-old U.S.-born child. In June 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordered DHS to return him to the U.S. and restore his legal status. Martinez-Andino returned on August 5, 2026, but was flown to a detention facility in Harlingen, Texas rather than North Carolina, where he remains detained awaiting legal relief.

A pregnant woman was arrested by ICE at Harry Reid International Airport in late July after returning to the United States from a vacation in Las Vegas. She was detained on immigration charges related to allegedly overstaying her visa. Her fiancé expressed concern about whether he will be able to meet his child.

The Guardian's investigation reveals at least 10 cases since January 2025 in which ICE subjected detained immigrants to involuntary force-feeding through nasogastric tubes. Three cases are detailed: an Afghan man force-fed daily for nearly six months at Port Isabel in Texas starting September 2025; Andriy Shepitsen, a Ukrainian man with severe bipolar disorder, whose attorney intervened to stop his force-feeding at Krome Service processing center in Miami after 44 days on hunger strike; and a Saudi Arabian woman who went on hunger strike in Louisiana in June 2025 and was transferred to Texas, where ICE sought permission to force-feed her before she broke her strike. Medical experts and human rights organizations have condemned force-feeding as torture. In six of the 10 cases reviewed, detained immigrants lacked legal representation during court proceedings, and most records remain sealed.

Paola Vanessa Prieto Valles was detained by ICE, creating emotional and financial hardship for her family. Described as a caring family member and dear friend, her absence has deeply affected those who love and depend on her. Her family is raising funds to cover legal representation, court-related expenses, communication costs, and other essential needs during her detention.

An Iranian woman detained at ICE's Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia has received a notice that ICE intends to deport her to the Central African Republic, a country she has never visited and that the U.S. government warns citizens to avoid due to violent crime and civil war. She said she fled Iran after converting to Christianity, an act severely punished there, entering the U.S. without authorization at the southern border in 2024 and settling in Atlanta. "I just started shaking. I was just so scared," she told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I don't have anyone (over) there. I don't know the language, or anything."

Kuya Rob, a Filipino migrant father, was detained by ICE in California and has been held for more than 400 days at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. His detention has separated him from his son and elderly mother. Advocates with the Tanggol Migrante Movement have organized a petition campaign, gathering over 439 signatures, citing detention conditions and what they describe as neglect by the Philippine Consulate.

Valentín, a hardworking family man, was detained by ICE for more than seven months in inhumane conditions. During his detention, he endured days without meals and was served cold or contaminated food, including food with worms. He was separated from his family with minimal meaningful communication and was unable to be present when his daughter gave birth, learning only later in custody that he had a newborn granddaughter. After his eventual release and reunification with his family, Valentín faces significant accumulated debt as he works to rebuild their lives.

Selvin Alfredo Ramos Perez, a kitchen worker at a Roanoke restaurant, was arrested by Roanoke County Police on August 4, 2026, for public intoxication. ICE lodged a detainer with the county jail the same day, and Ramos Perez was transferred into ICE custody pending removal proceedings. According to DHS, Ramos Perez entered the United States illegally on multiple occasions beginning in 2011, was removed and deported in 2017, and unlawfully re-entered the country multiple times after his removal. DHS also reported he has a prior criminal record including traffic offenses, public order crimes, fraud charges, and a DUI.

Adela Margarita Angel Melendez, an immigrant from El Salvador living in West Liberty, Iowa, was detained during a routine immigration check-in at the Cedar Rapids Department of Homeland Security office on August 4, 2026. She had been waiting seven years for the office to process a residency petition filed by her U.S. citizen sister. Two additional immigrants were also detained during routine check-ins at the same office that morning, according to advocacy group Escucha Mi Voz, which had been outside the office supporting immigrants at their regular meetings with the department.

Gabriel Johnson, a pastor and father who had legal status since age 15, was arrested by ICE in Cary, North Carolina. According to his family, ICE denied him consistent food, water, and necessary medications for over 16 days while in custody. Johnson suffered a stroke on July 30th, resulting in complete paralysis of the left side of his body. His family reports ICE agents refused to allow hospital staff to contact his daughter and has since denied the family visits, phone calls, or health updates. An emergency stay of removal has been filed on his behalf.

Andre Kalyakin entered the United States legally on a J-1 exchange visitor visa more than sixteen years ago and married a U.S. citizen. He is currently detained by ICE at Winn Correctional Center and reports being denied basic medical care, given spoiled milk, and brown tapwater while in custody. Kalyakin wrote a letter describing his detention conditions.

Edwin Jovanny López Cornejo, a 39-year-old Salvadoran national who had lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, died August 1, 2026, at University Hospital in Newark following a medical emergency at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility. He suffered from epilepsy, diabetes, and high blood pressure requiring daily medication, and leaves behind a 12-year-old U.S. citizen daughter, Ashley. ICE arrested him June 18, 2026, in Plainfield, New Jersey, reviving a 2006 deportation order, though his family said he held a valid work permit. His mother, Maria Cornejo, said he called her feeling very ill with numbness in his face and hand after seeing a facility medical provider, and described him as hardworking and a good father, saying, "I lost him to the hands of immigration authorities." The ACLU of New Jersey and his family allege he was denied adequate medical care, which DHS denies, stating he received proper treatment. His death was the second at Delaney Hall since it opened in May 2025, following months of detainee complaints and lawsuits alleging denial of medication, and prompted Governor Mikie Sherrill and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to call for the facility's closure.

Berhanu Kibret, a pharmacy instructor at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy since 2023, was detained by federal immigration agents at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on July 21, 2026, while returning from an American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy conference where he had just been honored as a teacher of the year. Authorities alleged he was undocumented and had overstayed a visa that expired May 31, 2024, despite his holding valid work authorization. University of Maryland officials described him as "an effective and beloved teacher" and a "highly valued" colleague. Kibret remained in detention following the arrest. His detention occurred the same day Ecuadorian traveler Chantal Morales Rojas was detained at Denver International Airport, amid a broader increase in ICE enforcement activity at U.S. airports.

Kaitlyn Tracey, a 33-year-old Canadian citizen, was arrested on July 3, 2026, after allegedly slapping a teenage girl twice on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk during Fourth of July weekend. The confrontation occurred after Tracey objected to the girl's sweatpants displaying political slogans and allegedly verbally harassed her about her clothing. Police documented the assault on video. Tracey had entered the U.S. on April 14, 2024, on a tourist visa that expired September 6, 2024, remaining in the country illegally. She was charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment, and obstruction. On August 4, 2026, a federal immigration judge ordered her deportation to Canada after she pleaded guilty to assault; she received a one-day jail sentence credited to time served. Her husband, Matthew Geroni, a U.S. citizen married to Tracey for over three years, disputed the characterization of events and alleged the arrest was politically motivated, claiming the viral video had been taken out of context. He launched fundraising efforts and social media campaigns to secure her release, raising $4,857 toward a $10,000 goal.

Blerim Skoro, a citizen of Kosovo, was granted deferral of removal under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) on November 9, 2022. He was detained by immigration authorities at the Newark Field Office and filed a habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 on August 3, 2026, challenging the legality of his detention. Skoro argued he is being wrongfully held under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b) and sought release or a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). The court noted there is no indication Skoro is currently in removal proceedings, and clarified that a CAT grant does not preclude detention or removal to a third country. The court denied Skoro's motion for a temporary restraining order without prejudice, finding insufficient facts to determine whether his detention is lawful under 8 U.S.C. § 1231. The court declined to dismiss the petition and ordered an expedited briefing schedule, requiring the government to file a full answer within 7 days addressing the statutory basis for detention. A prior stay of transfer from the District of New Jersey, entered by the Chief Judge, remains in effect during the proceedings.

Jorge Luis Eliecer Ruiz, a 36-year-old Venezuelan national, was detained by ICE on August 3, 2026, after being stopped near the intersection of Wiles Road and State Road 7 in Coconut Creek. He is married to Courtney Walter, a U.S. citizen who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple married in 2025 and filed an I-130 family-based petition in September 2025 to establish Ruiz's lawful permanent residency. Walter said the stress of her husband's detention has worsened her health, causing her to lose weight and struggle to eat. Ruiz is being held at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach. His attorney, David Estrella, is pursuing a habeas corpus petition and argues that Ruiz has withholding of removal protection that prevents his return to Venezuela.

Mesheal Magdy Mesheal Shafik is an Egyptian citizen who entered the United States without inspection on July 21, 2023, and sought asylum. He was subsequently released on his own recognizance and has lived in the United States continuously since his entry. On August 3, 2026, he was apprehended by immigration officers while attending an ICE check-in meeting that he was required to attend pursuant to his pending appeal of a removal order to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Shafik remains in custody at the West Tennessee Detention Facility and has not received a bond hearing. He filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention without prior notice, a warrant, or a bond hearing, alleging violations of his statutory and due process rights. The court issued an order staying his transfer and requiring the respondent to respond, noting that under Lopez-Campos v. Raycraft (6th Cir. 2026), noncitizens who have spent significant time in the U.S. interior and have not committed disqualifying offenses cannot be detained without an individualized bond hearing.

Claudia Rodríguez, a 29-year-old Venezuelan immigrant who earned her master's degree in business administration from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, was detained by ICE at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in July while attempting to board a flight to North Carolina. Rodríguez arrived in the U.S. legally in 2017 on a tourist visa, applied for asylum within six months, and was granted Temporary Protected Status in 2023 while her asylum case remains pending. She was transferred between two South Florida detention facilities, spending eight days at the ICE office in Miramar in severely overcrowded conditions—sleeping on floors in a cell with 75 people, unable to shower or change clothes, and losing 15 pounds. Her cousin Gabriel Domínguez described her as an exemplary athlete with no criminal record. U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited the Miramar facility to advocate for her release, calling the detention "unacceptable." Rodríguez was released on Monday evening.

A Guardian investigation found that the Trump administration's ICE officials attempted to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in immigrant detention to involuntary medical procedures including force-feeding between 2025 and 2026. At least three detainees were definitely subjected to force-feeding, and two more were probably forced to undergo the procedures, while five others ended their hunger strikes before the procedures began. DHS obtained court orders authorizing detention center guards to physically restrain hunger strikers while medical staff inserted feeding tubes and performed other involuntary procedures considered torture by human rights groups.

Carlitos Ricardo Parias, detained at the Adelanto ICE facility near Los Angeles, revealed video footage showing a bottle of drinking water apparently contaminated with worm-like creatures or larvae. The footage emerged weeks after a federal judge ordered ICE to ensure 24-hour access to clean drinking water at the facility in response to a class-action lawsuit alleging dangerous conditions including inadequate food, contaminated water, and poor medical care. Parias preserved the contaminated water as evidence after staff distributed it to detained residents.

Ana Granados Sanchez, a 49-year-old Salvadoran national held in ICE's Eloy Detention Center, was deported while still having a nephrostomy tube (urine-collection tube) attached to her body, three months after it was surgically placed. Her urologist at Banner Desert Medical Center had advised against deportation until the tube could be removed, and Granados Sanchez requested to see her specialist in person to have it taken out before leaving the country, citing concerns about medical care availability where she was being deported. While in ICE custody, she did not receive recommended follow-up care. During her detention, she was held in a processing facility with about two dozen other people and forced to use a shared toilet with no privacy, and was not given water at the initial processing center—conditions her urologist said may have contributed to her kidney problems. Advocates' efforts to appeal to ICE to delay her deportation were unsuccessful. The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project opposed the deportation, citing medical neglect and danger to her health.

Paul, an Indian national with an order withholding his removal based on Convention Against Torture protections, was detained by ICE officers at Dulles Airport after returning from a family trip to Hawaii. As he was being processed at an ICE field office in Virginia, Paul suffered a heart attack, was hospitalized and treated, then released back to ICE custody. He was subsequently released under a preexisting ICE supervision arrangement with his next check-in scheduled for September. His attorney, Jay S. Marks, noted that Paul has protection from removal to India but could be deported to a third country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested multiple undocumented immigrants convicted of serious crimes including murder, sexual assault of children, kidnapping, and robbery across the United States. The arrests included individuals from El Salvador, Honduras, Burma, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Laos, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Belize, Guyana, Peru, and Costa Rica. The DHS spokesperson stated that these enforcement actions removed dangerous criminals from communities.

A long-time member of the Grace St. Paul Episcopal Church community in Tucson was recently detained by ICE and is being held in immigration detention facing deportation. He has lived in Tucson for many decades, works full time, has no criminal record, and is the family's primary breadwinner supporting his wife and children. His sudden detention has left his family unable to cover rent, utilities, groceries, school expenses, and other essential bills, forcing his wife to take on extra work to keep the family afloat.

Pritesh Walia, a rising Indian jazz guitarist born in New Delhi, was arrested at Los Angeles Airport on August 2 for overstaying his O1B visa, which was set to expire in August 2025. Walia arrived in the U.S. in January 2019 and has studied at Musician's Institute, Berklee College of Music, and New England Conservatory, earning degrees in music. He is now being held at Adelanto ICE processing center in Southern California. According to his friend and former classmate saxophonist Joey Rosin, Walia suffers from persistent postural perceptual dizziness, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, and chronic vestibular migraines requiring aggressive physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and carefully balanced medication regimens. Rosin expressed concern that the detention facility's fluorescent lighting and conditions may prevent Walia from sleeping and worsen his chronic health conditions. Walia's newest album, "Journey to Nowhere," featuring a 27-piece ensemble, is being released this month.

On August 2, a man was reportedly detained inside the emergency room at NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital by masked federal agents. A DHS vehicle pulled into the emergency bay while protesters gathered outside, and the detained man was removed through another exit. The incident prompted community concern about immigration enforcement in medical settings.

Dozens of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, who held Temporary Protected Status were summoned to ICE check-in appointments on July 31 and August 2, 2026, and pressured to either self-deport with $2,600 in assistance or accept electronic ankle monitors. All rejected the payment offer and were fitted with ankle monitors despite having no criminal background and previously holding legal status. The practice appears to be occurring only in Springfield and represents a departure from standard practice, which typically reserves ankle monitors for immigrants with criminal records or deportation orders. The ankle monitors have a 75-mile radius, creating complications for court appearances in Cleveland, 188 miles away. This enforcement action follows the Supreme Court's June 2026 decision clearing the way for the Trump administration to end TPS protections for up to 350,000 Haitians, and comes amid a broader push to conduct mass deportations.

ICE agents detained a man during a traffic stop outside Chef Creole restaurant in the Little Haiti neighborhood of Miami on August 2, 2026. A video of the arrest went viral on social media, generating false reports that the restaurant itself had been raided. Restaurant employees safeguarded the man's backpack and scooter after his detention.

Josue Aldair Alfaro Herrera, a Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitioner, filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his prolonged civil immigration detention at Aurora Contract Detention Facility after ICE renewed his removal proceedings despite his SIJS status. The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado granted the petition, finding that his prolonged detention violated his constitutional rights and the Administrative Procedure Act. The Court ordered ICE to immediately release Petitioner from immigration detention.

Federal immigration enforcement agents conducted raids in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood and Cicero on Wednesday, resulting in at least seven detentions including U.S. citizens and staff members of a city alderman. A crash occurred near Cermak Fresh Market involving a civilian vehicle and agents, followed by a tense standoff between federal agents and community members. DHS reported three undocumented immigrants were detained and six U.S. citizens were arrested for impeding and threatening federal agents.

Country music singer Frank Ray publicly disclosed that his brother-in-law, Juan Nevarez, a Mexican national with a valid work visa, was arrested by ICE at El Paso airport on Thanksgiving Day. Nevarez was detained at an ICE facility in Otero County, New Mexico, pending a hearing to determine his immigration status. DHS cited a criminal record from a 2023 dispute, though most charges were dropped and only a misdemeanor trespassing conviction remained. Nevarez's wife and four U.S. citizen children await resolution of the case.

ICE agents in unmarked vehicles chased a red car in Chicago's Dunning neighborhood, with one SUV striking the vehicle from behind. The car subsequently crashed into a tree. ICE agents detained an older man at the scene after the collision.

An off-duty ICE or Border Patrol agent named Gerardo Rodriguez was arrested on November 11 after pulling a firearm on a 17-year-old during a traffic stop in Riverside County. The teenager was detained for nearly 20 minutes on the side of the road after being stopped while driving through the neighborhood. This incident is part of a growing pattern of ICE agents confronting people and demanding identification.

The ACLU of Ohio filed a federal lawsuit alleging that ICE agents repeatedly violated federal law by making warrantless arrests without determining flight risk, detained individuals for weeks or months, and mistreated detainees. The lawsuit details cases involving people with valid visas, work permits, and U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico, suggesting possible racial profiling. The plaintiffs seek class action status and want courts to stop warrantless arrests and require compensation for those improperly detained.

Eduardo Aguirre Esparza, a 53-year-old Mexican national and small business owner who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, was arrested by ICE on July 23, 2026, while working on a home remodeling project in West Seattle. Approximately 20 ICE agents in unmarked vehicles surrounded him, allegedly physically pushing him and threatening him when he refused to sign a voluntary departure form; he requested his lawyer instead. Without appearing before a judge or having contact with his attorney, Aguirre Esparza was transferred between multiple ICE facilities over three days and flown to El Paso, Texas, where he is detained at ERO El Paso Camp East Montana. His wife, Stacey Fitzpatrick, a U.S. citizen attorney, disputes ICE's claim that he has a 2005 DUI arrest from Kansas, noting he has never lived in Kansas and background checks show only a resolved 2015 traffic citation. Aguirre Esparza has a pending green card application and is married to a U.S. citizen with deep community ties. Community members organized rallies and fundraisers in West Seattle to raise awareness and support for his family, and Senator Patty Murray called the arrest "fundamentally wrong and un-American."

Border Patrol agents in the San Diego Sector rescued two individuals in separate incidents in the East County mountains amid extreme heat. On Aug. 1, agents located a person lost in the Jacumba Mountains suffering heat exhaustion, disorientation and blurred vision after running out of water in roughly 107-degree heat; the person was airlifted and taken to a hospital for treatment. In a separate incident on July 26, agents using surveillance equipment spotted a person near Cottonwood Canyon who was unable to walk out unassisted; emergency responders carried the person out and transported them to a hospital. Border Patrol said both individuals were determined to be in the country without authorization and will be processed for removal after receiving medical clearance.

Martin Martinez-Ballinas, 38, a Mexican national, was transferred to ICE custody on July 22, 2026, after completing a federal prison sentence for illegal reentry at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He faces deportation proceedings for the third time. Martinez-Ballinas was previously deported in 2020 after a 2017 felony conviction in Maryland for a fatal hit-and-run crash involving a U.S. Marine, then unlawfully reentered and was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in Texas in 2021, convicted of illegal reentry, and deported again in October 2022. He reentered the United States again without authorization and was apprehended in Maryland in December 2023, subsequently convicted of another unlawful reentry offense.

Luis Miguel Hernandez Galindo, detained in ICE custody, filed a habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241 in the Eastern District of California on July 31, 2026, along with an emergency motion for a temporary restraining order. The same day, District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston found that he appeared likely to succeed on at least one of his claims and that some form of immediate relief may be appropriate, and ordered the government to show cause by August 7, 2026, why a TRO should not issue. Citing exigent circumstances, the court ordered that the government may not remove him from the United States or transfer him out of the district while the case is pending. The court also directed the government to produce documentation related to any asserted violations of release conditions, and set the matter for further briefing and a possible hearing.

Cesar has spent most of his life in the United States, where he built his family, friendships, and future. In May, he was unexpectedly taken into ICE detention. His two young daughters have been without their father's love, comfort, and security since his detention. His family is raising funds to cover attorney fees, court costs, and living expenses while fighting for his return.

Zena Gebrgzabher, a 39-year-old Eritrean truck driver who lived in Maryland, was deported by the Trump administration to the Central African Republic after being arrested during a routine ICE check-in appointment. He had won protection under the Convention Against Torture in 2017 barring his deportation to Eritrea, after fleeing forced military conscription and imprisonment there, but that protection did not prevent officials from sending him to a third country. His wife and 5-year-old son, both U.S. citizens, live in Maryland; his wife, Yrgalem Gehrehiwet, called the deportation "unfair and inhumane" and said their son has been deeply affected by his father's absence. CBS News found no criminal record for Gebrgzabher beyond traffic and immigration violations, and he is now stranded in Bangui without documents.

Petitioner Erik Orlando Lopez-Martinez was granted voluntary departure by an immigration judge in 2017 but never left the country, causing that order to automatically convert into a final removal order under federal law. In June 2025, he was detained after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his place of employment, and he was held for nearly a year at the Montgomery Municipal Jail under a material witness warrant. On May 22, 2026, a magistrate judge dismissed the material witness warrant and ordered his release, but he was not released and remained in custody for reasons unknown to the court. He filed a federal habeas corpus petition on July 31, 2026, seeking release or a bond hearing before an immigration judge. Respondents indicated that ICE had only lodged a detainer at the time the petition was filed and did not take physical custody of him until August 4, 2026, after which he was transferred to a facility within the Northern District of Alabama. The court dismissed the petition without prejudice, finding both that Petitioner failed to comply with a show-cause order and that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction because he was not in ICE custody at the time of filing, noting jurisdiction now lies only in the district of his current confinement.

Yasmani Noel Moreno de Armas, a 31-year-old Cuban whose parents live in Hialeah, was detained by ICE officers without explanation on May 11, 2025 while spending a day in West Palm Beach. He believed he would be sent to Cuba and only realized he was headed to Africa more than two hours into a 22-hour deportation flight that landed in Bangui, Central African Republic on August 1. He is now confined at a guarded apartment complex in Bangui, suffering stomach problems and allergies, without identification documents or legal status. 'They brought us here illegally,' he said; his parents 'went crazy, crying and yelling' when he called to tell them where he was.

Arístides Fernández García, 37, a Cuban who owned a trucking company and had been living in the U.S. under an I-220A release order since 2022, was detained by ICE in January when he appeared before a judge at a Miami immigration court. He was held at the South Florida Detention Facility known as 'Alligator Alcatraz' before being shackled at his feet, hands, and waist and deported on a 22-hour flight to Bangui, Central African Republic, arriving August 1. 'I paid taxes, I never got a traffic ticket. I did everything right,' he said. Upon arrival, local authorities gave deportees injections without explanation; he is now confined at a guarded complex in Bangui without identification or legal status.

A man was detained by ICE in Fairbanks, Alaska on July 31, 2026, despite being in the United States legally and actively working toward permanent resident status. His sister describes him as hardworking and honest, someone who pays taxes, works steadily, and helps support their mother and his grandchildren. Within 24 hours of his detention in Fairbanks, he was transferred to Anchorage; his family fears further transfers out of state will make it increasingly difficult for them to communicate with him, secure legal representation, and advocate for his rights. The family is raising funds to cover immigration attorney fees, legal filings, travel, and communication costs necessary to fight for his release.

Lester Galo-Hernandez is a citizen of Honduras who entered the United States through the southern border in 2021 and was briefly detained by ICE before being released. He subsequently settled in New Jersey. On July 31, 2026, ICE apprehended him in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and detained him at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. On August 6, 2026, ICE transferred him to Moshannon Valley Processing Center and detained him under Section 1225 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which provides for mandatory detention. Galo-Hernandez filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention. The federal court granted his petition, holding that Section 1226(a)—not Section 1225(b)(2)—governs the detention of noncitizens who have entered without admission but have long resided in the interior. The court ordered his immediate release and a temporary seven-day enjoinder against re-detention. If the government seeks to re-detain him after that period, it must first provide him with a bond hearing before an immigration judge.

Iemad Saifo, a 65-year-old Syrian-born chef who owns Zena's American Mediterranean Cuisine and Catering in Collingswood, New Jersey, was detained by ICE during what he believed was a routine check-in, despite having a pending immigration case with a December court date. Saifo came to the U.S. in 2002 on a B1/B2 visa, is the primary caregiver for his son with autism, and suffers from a rare neurological condition and chronic kidney disease. His wife and four children are U.S. citizens, and a residency petition filed by his U.S. citizen son had cleared its first approval stage. He was taken to Delaney Hall detention facility in Newark, and his attorneys filed an emergency habeas petition after which a federal judge barred ICE from transferring him out of state. A petition supporting him gathered more than 12,500 signatures, drawing support including from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and over 150 notarized letters from community members. An immigration judge granted bond and he was released, with his daughter saying, 'We are so relieved to have him safely back home as the immigration process continues.'

Cornelius Kaihau Holani, a 20-year-old citizen of New Zealand of Tongan ethnicity, was lawfully admitted to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program in July 2023. He lives in Seattle, cares for his elderly grandmother, and volunteers at his church teaching traditional Tongan dance. His mother is a green card holder and his stepfather is a U.S. citizen. On July 31, ICE agents detained Holani at Oakland International Airport as he waited to board a domestic flight to Seattle, handcuffed him, and transported him to an ICE office in San Francisco. Agents presented him with a document and instructed him to sign it; when he asked if it was related to deportation, an officer allegedly told him "No, it's nothing like that." U.S. District Judge Noël Wise ruled that ICE coerced Holani into signing the document without knowing its contents and that the government violated his due process rights by relying on it as a waiver of his right to contest removal. The judge ordered his release and barred re-detention or removal pending a hearing.

Paula Sofia Ramirez Clavijo, a 33-year-old Colombian asylum seeker and survivor of sexual assault, was detained by ICE on July 24, 2025, immediately after appearing at San Francisco Immigration Court for a scheduled removal hearing. She had entered the U.S. without inspection in December 2023 and been released on her own recognizance. ICE arrested her outside the courtroom pursuant to a Warrant of Arrest. Attorney Erin Meyer filed a habeas corpus petition on her behalf. A U.S. District Court judge issued an order for her release while she was already on a United Airlines flight to Honolulu with ICE officers. The court granted her petition, ruling that she has a protected liberty interest and cannot be re-detained without a pre-deprivation bond hearing where the government must prove by clear and convincing evidence that she is a flight risk or danger to the community.

Jaciel Cirrus Rojas, a Mexican national and Chatino-language speaker from rural Oaxaca, came to Racine in 2018 to reunite with his brother. In June 2025, ICE agents arrived at his home searching for a prior tenant and detained him as "collateral" despite no prior criminal convictions or civil citations. Held at Dodge County jail for nine months and separated from his partner and child, Rojas filed for asylum citing fear of torture if returned to Mexico. His attorney Jennifer Bizzotto challenged his detention through a federal habeas petition. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in his favor on July 31, 2026, rejecting the Trump administration's mandatory detention policy and allowing detainees like Rojas to seek bond hearings in immigration court.

Elton Purvis, a 55-year-old lawful permanent resident and devout Rastafarian priest with Type 1 diabetes from Trinidad and Tobago, was detained by ICE at Boston Logan Airport on May 13, 2025, upon returning to the United States to attend his sons' graduations. He is a father of nine U.S. citizen children and had been a community fixture for more than 30 years. According to ACLU tort claims filed on his behalf, Purvis had malaria when detained and ICE officers confiscated his insulin and malaria medication; he was not treated for malaria for his first 12 days in custody. During seven months in multiple facilities including the South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall, Purvis filed over 100 grievances seeking medical assistance and became unresponsive in his cell at least three times due to dangerously low blood sugar levels. He received hospital treatment at least three times but guards repeatedly ignored requests for medical help. Staff also refused to accommodate his strict vegetarian diet required by his religion and medical condition. Purvis was deported to Trinidad and Tobago on December 6, 2025, and is seeking $10 million in damages. His case is part of a nationwide ACLU effort that filed more than 50 claims across 17 states and Washington, D.C., alleging that immigration officials and subcontractors neglected detained immigrants' medical and food needs.