Families arrested at a routine check-in in Dallas, TX
Documented stories describe families in Dallas, TX detained by ICE during routine check-ins or green card interviews, including spouses of U.S. citizens and asylum seekers, then transferred to detention centers in Oklahoma or Georgia, or deported, with one man reportedly beaten in El Salvador's CECOT prison. Reports span from March 2025 to a recurring pattern beginning September 2026, with the share of these stories staying roughly steady over that period. At last report, most people remained detained or had been deported.”} <!-- placeholder --> {
First documented Mar 2025, recurring since Sep 2026.
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.
6 stories in 1 state. What accompanies this practice →
Texas
- Asylum-seeking father deported after ICE check-in, family now in hidingA Honduran construction worker from the Dallas suburbs was detained at a routine check-in and deported to Honduras, where a gang patrols his village; his son waits daily at the window for him.Dallas, TX · Sep 28, 2026 · The Atlantic
Patricia V.: Venezuelan engineer and new mother detained by ICE at asylum appointmentPatricia Valdez, 37, a Venezuelan engineer and mother of a three-month-old, was detained at a routine asylum check-in and sent to an Oklahoma detention facility.Dallas, TX · Sep 26, 2026 · El Pitazo, Enfoque Noticioso, Diario Pico Bolívar +1
Arelys B.M.: Army veteran's wife detained at routine ICE check-in, faces deportationArelys Barahona-Martinez, 40, married to a retired Army staff sergeant, was detained at a routine Dallas check-in and faces deportation despite years of compliance. She was later granted bond but remains jailed pending payment.Dallas, TX · Sep 15, 2026 · CBS News, BBC, Readers ID +4
Niury G. and Rafael A.: Two spouses of U.S. citizens detained by ICE at Dallas appointmentsNiury Guerra, a Cuban wife of a U.S. citizen, was detained at her green card interview and held 200 miles from her 15-month-old daughter. Rafael Alambarrio, husband of a McKinney teacher, was detained at a routine check-in.Dallas, TX · Feb 17, 2026 · FOX 4 News, Dallas Morning News
Immigrants increasingly detained at Dallas ICE office during check-insAn asylum seeker from El Salvador with no criminal record was detained at a routine Dallas ICE check-in in October 2025 and sent to a Georgia detention center. The office now averages about 100 arrests daily.Dallas, TX · Nov 18, 2025 · KERA News, Legal Clarity, Houston Public Media
Andry B.B.: Food delivery driver detained by ICE, beaten four months in Salvadoran prisonAndry Omar Blanco Bonilla, 40, a food delivery driver and father of seven, endured four months of beatings at El Salvador's CECOT prison after agents questioned him about tattoos he says represent his family.Dallas, TX · Mar 15, 2025 · CBS News, CourtListener, The Guardian