Doctor or nurse
Doctors and nurses detained or deported
Stories describe doctors, nurses, and other health workers—from Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Boston, McAllen, and South Florida—detained or deported by ICE or Border Patrol, often at airports, border checkpoints, or workplaces, including check-ins, a protest, and a visit to Mass; some report physical force, chaining, or shooting. First documented August 2025, these reports became recurring starting April 2026, now making up a larger share of recent stories than earlier ones.
First documented Aug 2025, recurring since Apr 2026. A larger share of recent stories than earlier ones.
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.
29 stories in 12 states. What accompanies this practice →
“For my kids to have to go through it is horrible for me to comprehend. Why? We always say if you change, you deserve a second chance.”
Arizona
California
Monica R.: Nurse detained 15 days by ICE during Disneyland tripMonica Ryadi, a 30-year-old nurse who fled religious persecution in Indonesia as a child, was detained by ICE at LAX in front of her young son and held two weeks before a judge ordered her release.“He experienced the whole thing. Me being cuffed and had to walk away with these groups of men God knows where.” — Monica RyadiLos Angeles, CA · Oct 15, 2026 · 6ABC, Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS News +9
Kwadwo: Respiratory therapist chained by ICE at SFO, held over two monthsKwadwo, a 57-year-old respiratory therapist in Daly City for eight years, was chained and arrested at a San Francisco airport gate over an expired visa. He remains held while appealing his case.“It feels like they’re just trying to find people to fill up prisons. It feels like the system is failing us.” — Kwadwo's sonSan Francisco, CA · Sep 30, 2026 · Mission Local, GhanaWebbers, Abolish ICE
Maureen N.: Bay Area nurse, mother of two, deported to Kenya after ICE check-inMaureen Wanjiru Ngure, a 38-year-old nurse and mother of two in Concord, was detained at a routine check-in after 20 years in the U.S. and deported to Kenya in August.“I felt depressed, I felt confused, I was asking the question: why,” — Maureen Wanjiru NgureSan Francisco, CA · Sep 14, 2026 · Florida Public Interest Research Group, KQED, Idaho Public Press +2
Janeth: Award-winning Honduran nursing assistant loses job when TPS is revokedJaneth, a 50-year-old Honduran nursing assistant with 23 years of experience and seven national awards, lost her job overnight when the government ended her country's protected status.San Francisco, CA · Jun 23, 2026 · The Guardian, Eastern New Mexico News, The Guardian Wings
Rubilez B.: Santa Maria man's 5-year-old daughter held 20 hours in ICE detentionA Santa Maria father's five-year-old daughter was freed after 20 hours in ICE detention at a Texas airport. Her mother, a Venezuelan doctor in medical residency, remains detained after officials called her documents invalid.Santa Maria, CA · Apr 15, 2026 · LinkedIn, Archy Newsy, American Medical Writers Association
Amanda T.: U.S. citizen ICU nurse pinned down and arrested while documenting immigration enforcementAmanda Trebach, an ICU nurse treating low-income communities in Los Angeles, was pinned to the pavement and detained while filming immigration enforcement, then released a day later without charges.San Pedro, CA · Aug 9, 2025 · FOX 11 Los Angeles, KTLA, National Nurses United +5
Florida
Alina R.A.: Physician and Cuban general's daughter detained by ICE in South FloridaAlina Rosales Aguirreurreta, a physician and daughter of a Cuban general, was detained in South Florida while seeking to regularize her status after entering on a tourist visa in 2023.South Florida, FL · May 27, 2026 · United Press International, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines
Rubeliz B.: Venezuelan doctor detained by ICE while traveling with 5-year-old U.S. citizen daughterDr. Rubeliz Bolívar, an emergency medicine resident, was detained with her 5-year-old daughter at McAllen airport while heading to an asylum interview despite holding a valid work permit; she was released the same night.Orlando, FL · Apr 16, 2026 · El Imparcial, Archy Newsy, American College of Emergency Physicians +1
Haitians deported from U.S. describe being left stranded, broke, and missing belongingsSeveral Haitian deportees described arriving home broke and missing belongings, including Natacha Antoine, 42, a former nurse's aide from Indianapolis whose $600 passport was never returned. A report found over 470 deported to Haiti since July.“I did more for the United States than the United States did for me,” — Natacha AntoineOrlando, FL · Oct 1, 2025 · HCN Times, NewsWav
Louisiana
Maryland
Rabbiatu K.: Nurse with court protection deported to Ghana, filmed dragged by hairRabbiatu Kuyateh, a 58-year-old nurse who cared for Covid-19 patients for decades, was deported to Ghana despite court protection from removal and filmed being dragged by her hair into a van.“That’s when they dragged me. So, they bumped the back of my head.” — Rabbiatu KuyatehBowie, MD · Sep 23, 2026 · NBC Washington, US News Sphere, Nedhamson's Second Line View of the News +9
Melissa T.: Maryland mother shackled for 80 hours before deportation flight to VietnamMelissa Tran, a Vietnamese refugee and former health care worker in Maryland, was shackled for about 80 hours, including 10 without food or water, before being deported to Vietnam in November 2025.“For my kids to have to go through it is horrible for me to comprehend. Why? We always say if you change, you deserve a second chance.” — Melissa TranBaltimore, MD · Feb 4, 2026 · CBS News, Newsweek, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel +6
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Jersey
Norma B.: 69-year-old nurse thrown to ground by ICE agent, suffers fractured kneecapNorma Bowe, 69, a nurse and professor running a mobile clinic outside a detention center, was thrown to the ground by an agent, fracturing her kneecap; she is now seeking $500,000 in damages.Newark, NJ · Oct 6, 2026 · New Jersey Monitor, The Guardian, Patch +5
Norma B.: Nurse running health clinic says ICE agents attacked her outside Delaney HallDr. Norma Bowe, a grandmother and nurse running a mobile health clinic for families of detainees, was assaulted by ICE agents outside Delaney Hall. She has filed a legal claim over the attack.“I was violently attacked by ICE agents while I was trying to provide medical care for people visiting their loved ones in Delaney Hall.” — Dr. Norma BoweNewark, NJ · Jul 29, 2026 · ACLU of New Jersey, New Jersey Monitor, NJ.com +1
New York
Texas
Leticia U.: Nigerian nun detained by ICE on way to Mass, denied medicationSister Leticia Ugboaja, a 56-year-old Nigerian-born nun and registered nurse, was detained while walking to Mass in McAllen, Texas, despite valid legal status, and released the same day after lawmakers intervened.McAllen, TX · Jul 29, 2026 · The Independent, East Texas Radio, Spot On Texas +27
Rubeliz B.: Venezuelan doctor with work permit arrested by CBP at McAllen airportDr. Rubeliz Bolívar, a Venezuelan physician with a work permit, was detained at McAllen airport with her five-year-old daughter and held a month before a judge ordered her release on bail.Texas · May 13, 2026 · KEYT, KRGV, Telemundo +2
Rubeliz B.: Venezuelan ER doctor and 5-year-old U.S. citizen daughter held by CBPDr. Rubeliz Bolívar, a 33-year-old ER resident in McAllen, Texas, was detained with her 5-year-old daughter while traveling to her asylum interview, which she missed.McAllen, TX · Apr 11, 2026 · Associated Press, American College of Emergency Physicians, Valley Central +1- Ezequiel V.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained at Border Patrol checkpointDr. Ezequiel Veliz, a Venezuelan physician and medical resident in Texas, was detained at a checkpoint after his protected status was revoked. Married to a U.S. citizen, he was granted bond following medical community outcry and a lawmaker's intervention.Sarita, TX · Apr 2026 · LinkedIn, Archy Newsy, American Medical Writers Association +5
Rubeliz B.B.: Venezuelan doctor with valid work permit held a month by ICEDr. Rubeliz Bolívar Barrios, 33, a physician with a valid work permit through 2030, was freed on bail after over a month in detention following her arrest at an airport despite valid documents.McAllen, TX · Mar 2026 · FOX RGV, KRGV, Caraota Digital +2
Washington
Location not tied to one state
Ezequiel V.C.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained by ICE at Texas checkpointEzequiel Vélez Cáceres, a 32-year-old Venezuelan physician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a Texas checkpoint after losing protected status, then ordered released by a judge in April 2026.“Una felicidad total que lo hayan podido sacar; es indescriptible. Su papá está feliz y su mamá casi que no podía hablar de la emoción, su hermana también. Saben el tipo de persona que es y que ha sido todo muy injusto” — a family friendApr 15, 2026 · Telemundo, Telemundo Houston, RGV Monthly
Ezequiel V.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained by CBP at Texas checkpointDr. Ezequiel Veliz, a family-medicine resident physician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a Texas checkpoint after losing his work permit when TPS for Venezuelans ended. He was freed on $8,000 bond after ten days.TX · Apr 6, 2026 · Info News, Latin Times, Valley Central +2
Steven T.: Ugandan pastor pulled from car by ICE in Vermont, held 16 daysPastor Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and nursing assistant, was pulled from his car at gunpoint outside a Vermont care facility and held 16 days before a judge ordered his release in February.VT · Mar 20, 2026 · Newsweek, Associated Press, Community Violence Intervention Collaborative +4
U.S. citizens pinned and chokeheld by immigration agents in over 40 casesAn investigation found over 40 cases of immigration agents using chokeholds on citizens and protesters, including ICU nurse Amanda Trebach, pinned to the pavement in Los Angeles while filming an ICE operation. At least 170 U.S. citizens have been arrested.Jan 13, 2026 · ProPublica, Idaho State Journal, Page Goo +2