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Human Impact Project

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

Story details

Religious leader

The affected person was a pastor, priest, imam, rabbi, or other clergy or religious leader.

Documented in 18 states. Every well-documented story coded this way, grouped by state. See what accompanies it →

California

Jorge B.: Pastor shot in face with pepper round by ICE at prayer vigilRev. Jorge Bautista, a pastor, was shot in the face with a pepper round while trying to deescalate an Oct. 23 prayer vigil in Alameda, California, suffering days of burning eyes and headaches.“I was in shock, disoriented and terrified that I might stop breathing altogether.” — the Rev. Jorge BautistaAlameda, CA · Oct 23, 2025 · United Church of Christ, Religion News Service, San Francisco Chronicle +4

Colorado

Edward N.: Priest, 78, held by ICE 13 months, untreated illnessEdward Nalwamba, 78, a Ugandan priest living in Colorado over two decades, was freed after 13 months in ICE detention, having to be carried out after losing the ability to walk.Aurora, CO · Oct 20, 2026 · CBS News, indcatholicnews.com, Documented

Florida

Georgia

Dy N.: Vietnamese deacon and father of six deported by ICE, missed newborn's birthThuc Dy Dang Nguyen, a church deacon, Sunday-school teacher and father of six, was deported to Vietnam after 12 years of compliance with supervision. He missed his wife's C-section and has not met their newest child.Atlanta, GA · May 1, 2026 · Newsweek, Habeas Dockets, Tea Buoy

Illinois

Maine

Maryland

Daniel F.E.: Easton, Maryland pastor held by ICE says he was denied heart medicationDaniel Fuentes Espinal, a volunteer pastor and construction worker who led a 70-family congregation for over a decade, was detained while driving to a job and held nearly a month before his Easton community won his release.Easton, MD · Aug 18, 2025 · ACLU, Christian Post, CNN +7

Massachusetts

Ruzana N.: Pastor with U.S. citizen son detained at routine ICE check-in in MassachusettsAssociate pastor Ruzana Nehonde, 49, was detained during a routine check-in despite nearly three decades in Massachusetts and a U.S. citizen son. Her Stow church community is raising money to help her family.Stow, MA · Dec 3, 2025 · Boston Globe, CBS News, FOX 23 Maine

Minnesota

New Jersey

Yeison C.V.: New Jersey pastor seeking asylum held three weeks in ICE detentionRev. Yeison Cortes Vasquez, 46, a pastor at The Gathering Place Church in Elizabeth, N.J., was detained during a food delivery job and held three weeks at Delaney Hall before release on bond with GPS monitoring.Elizabeth, NJ · Apr 13, 2026 · CBS News, Yahoo News, Newsweek +4

New York

Yehonatan O.: Hasidic rabbi and father of five denied bond, faces deportation to IsraelYehonatan Ovadia, a 35-year-old rabbi and father of five from Rockland County, remains detained in Brooklyn and faces deportation to Israel after his visa extension was denied over a 2023 protest. A judge denied him bond.“The First Amendment protects both Mr. Ovadia's right to criticize a foreign government and his right to practice and express his deeply-held religious belief that the Zionist project is incompatible with Judaism. We demand his immediate release.” — Eric LeeNew York, NY · Sep 30, 2026 · Newsweek, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Nexus News Feed +6

Ohio

Oklahoma

Wulfrano P.: Tulsa pastor deported after routine immigration check-inWulfrano Portillo, a pastor at Tulsa's La Hermosa Church for 24 years, was detained at a routine check-in and deported to Mexico the next day, leaving his wife and four adult children without explanation.Tulsa, OK · Mar 10, 2026 · News on 6, Tulsa Flyer, Acts Social

Oregon

Fidel C.G.: Woodburn, Oregon, pastor detained by ICE days before Marine son turns 21Fidel Cordero Garcia, a Woodburn pastor and father, was detained days before his son, a U.S. Marine, turned 21 and could have petitioned for his green card.Woodburn, OR · Sep 4, 2026 · Chron, Portland Tribune, Statesman Journal

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

ELaura R.: Memphis pastor leaving church event pulled over by National Guard memberRev. ELaura James Reid, 49, a lifelong Memphis pastor, was pulled over by a camouflaged National Guard member after a church unity summit on October 10, 2025, but was not arrested or ticketed.Memphis, TN · Oct 10, 2025 · ProPublica, MLK50

Texas

Wisconsin

Salah S.: Mosque president held 80 days by ICE in retaliation for Palestinian advocacySalah Sarsour, 53, a mosque president and father of six, was held 80 days, losing over 30 pounds amid worsening diabetes. A judge found ICE likely retaliated against him for Palestinian rights advocacy.Milwaukee, WI · Sep 29, 2026 · Journal Sentinel, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Reuters +16

Location not tied to one state