HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

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

Ruse or deception

Lured by a ruse: fake appointments, agents posing as police

Documented reports describe immigration agents using ruses—posing as police, electricians, buyers, or day laborers, or arranging fake appointments—to lure people from homes, workplaces, and public spaces for arrest, including outside a Home Depot in Phoenix, a tire shop in Lynnwood, Washington, and family homes in Texas, Arizona, and Maryland. Cases span 24 states and include fathers detained in front of children. First documented January 2025, recurring from February 2025 onward, with these ruse-based detentions holding a roughly steady share of reported cases since then.

First documented Jan 2025, recurring since Feb 2025.

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.

83 stories in 24 states. What accompanies this practice →

“I am in complete shock over what happened … I need a little bit of time to process everything I will come back soon. But please don’t worry,”

— Ellie Aghayeva. After her release from ICE custody, Aghayeva described her reaction to being detained that morning. read the story →

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