Arrested at a wedding, graduation, funeral, or a child's birth
Stories describe ICE detaining people during childbirth recovery, NICU visits, graduations, funerals, and airport arrivals, in states including Texas, California, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, and Maine. Those detained include parents, DACA recipients, asylum seekers, and a green card holder; outcomes include release on bond, continued detention, and deportation, including of a U.S. citizen child with a brain tumor. First documented in March 2025, the pattern became recurring by February 2026 and has grown as a share of reported stories since.
First documented Mar 2025, recurring since Feb 2026. Growing as a share of recent stories.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
19 stories in 13 states. What accompanies this practice →
“My daughter never leaves my side. It would be extremely detrimental to her, in every respect, if I were separated from her.”
California
Wilber U.G.: 18-year-old asylum-seeking honor student detained by ICE day after graduationWilber Urbina Garcia, an 18-year-old honors graduate who dreamed of becoming a doctor, was detained the morning after graduation during an asylum check-in. He spent over two weeks at Adelanto before a judge ordered his release on June 26.Los Angeles, CA · Jun 26, 2026 · FOX 11 Los Angeles, Nedhamson's Second Line View of the News, Magzter +6- Shani E.: Father of U.S. citizens detained by ICE at LAX before funeral flightAn Iranian man who came to the U.S. as a child in 1993, married to a citizen with two citizen children, was detained at LAX while flying to his father-in-law's funeral. A court ordered his immediate release.Los Angeles, CA · Mar 18, 2026 · CourtListener
District of Columbia
Illinois
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
New Mexico
Oregon
South Dakota
Texas
Elton P.: Green card holder denied insulin, deported after seven months in ICE custodyElton Purvis, a Rastafarian priest and father of nine U.S. citizen children, was detained for seven months, during which he says guards denied him diabetes care and proper food before his December deportation to Trinidad and Tobago.Pearsall, TX · Jul 31, 2026 · Texas Tribune, Hill Country Post, Antigua Trumpet +6- Shriram K.: Engineer detained by ICE at McAllen airport, 8-year-old son left waitingShriram Krishnan, an engineer in the U.S. since 2003 with a pending green card case, was detained at a Texas airport before a flight to meet his newborn nephew. His 8-year-old son still awaits his return.McAllen, TX · Apr 16, 2026 · Border Report, Valley Central, Deportation Preparation +1
Juan C.V.: DACA recipient detained by ICE while delivering breast milk to premature daughterJuan Chavez Velasco, a medical laboratory scientist and father of three, was detained while delivering breast milk to his premature daughter's NICU. His DACA status expired during his detention.Weslaco, TX · Apr 6, 2026 · Telemundo, Spectrum Local News, Telemundo 40 +11
11-year-old U.S. citizen with brain tumor deported after Border Patrol checkpoint stopAn 11-year-old U.S. citizen with a brain tumor was deported to Mexico after her parents were detained at a checkpoint during her medical checkup. Her health has since worsened.“My daughter never leaves my side. It would be extremely detrimental to her, in every respect, if I were separated from her.” — the motherRio Grande Valley, TX · Feb 24, 2026 · NBC News, Latin Times, TPR +3- Jonathan: Australian with valid work visa detained, insulted, deported returning from sister's memorialJonathan, an Australian who had lived on the US east coast for nearly a decade, was detained over 36 hours returning from his sister's memorial, insulted by an officer, and deported, leaving his partner and work behind.Houston, TX · Mar 2025 · The Guardian, Debate Politics, Havana Times +2
