U.S. citizens whose passports and birth certificates were dismissed

Reports describe U.S. citizens in California, Texas, Oregon, Maryland, Illinois, Florida, and elsewhere who were tackled, handcuffed, tased, or jailed by ICE and other federal agents despite presenting birth certificates, passports, or Social Security cards; several were held for hours or days, one was deported to Mexico, and others reported being mistaken for other people. Documented cases began in January 2025 and have recurred monthly since, holding a roughly steady share of reported stories over time. Outcomes among known cases include releases, continued detention, deportation, and one self-deportation.

“I just kept repeating it — I’m a U.S.-born citizen. I was born and raised here. This is my home. My baby’s waiting for me,”