Teachers and coaches detained or deported
Reported cases describe teachers, coaches, and professors detained by ICE or Border Patrol at airports, traffic stops, school dismissals, and routine check-ins across states including California, Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New York. Several were held for weeks or months at facilities like Adelanto, Moshannon Valley, Dilley, and Fort Bliss despite green cards, work permits, or pending asylum claims; some report physical force or solitary confinement. First documented May 2025, recurring since July 2025, peaking in share of reported stories in November 2025, with a roughly steady share since.
First documented May 2025, recurring since Jul 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.
36 stories in 15 states. What accompanies this practice →
“It was a federal invasion and terror campaign on our streets. The behavior of these masked thugs was horrific … they were ripping human beings out of families.”
California
Jing Z.: Irvine special education teacher detained at LAX, transferred to Adelanto ICE facilityJing Zhao, an Irvine special education teacher who helped children with developmental needs, was surrounded by masked agents at LAX and placed in an unmarked van, later transferred to Adelanto detention center.Los Angeles, CA · Oct 6, 2026 · Hindustan Times, International Business Times, ABC7 +4
DACA teacher put on unpaid leave as renewal stalls over five monthsA Central Valley teacher with DACA status was placed on unpaid leave after her work permit renewal stalled for over five months. Thousands of DACA recipients, including an estimated 6,784 California educators, face similar delays.California · Apr 23, 2026 · EdSource, KSN, NBC DFW
Crime survivors protected by Congress being deported by ICEYessenia Ruano, a former Milwaukee teacher's aide awaiting a trafficking-survivor visa, self-deported to El Salvador with her U.S. citizen children after ICE threatened her at a check-in. A lawsuit challenges new ICE guidance ending protections for crime survivors.Los Angeles, CA · Mar 4, 2026 · ABC7, International Business Times, WGBH +1
Daycare teacher with work permit and U.S. citizen dad arrested by agentsA Chicago daycare teacher with a work permit was arrested in front of parents and children. In Los Angeles, a U.S. citizen was detained at a Home Depot while his 1-year-old citizen daughter remained in the car.Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA · Dec 26, 2025 · ABC News, Associated Press, CNN
Jonathan C.: CSU lecturer arrested during immigration raid at farmA CSU Channel Islands lecturer was arrested during immigration raids at Camarillo cannabis farms, accused of throwing a tear gas canister at agents. Released on bond, he pleaded not guilty in November.Ventura County, CA · Nov 6, 2025 · FOX 11 Los Angeles, LAist, Magzter +3
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Diana S.G.: Chicago daycare teacher forcibly removed by ICE in front of childrenA Chicago daycare teacher was pulled from a car and detained in front of children during morning drop-off. A federal judge ruled her detention illegal and ordered a bond hearing.Chicago, IL · Nov 6, 2025 · Chicago Sun-Times, CBS News, ABC7 Chicago +6
Giovanna M.O.: Venezuelan former Illinois teacher, 32, arrested by ICEA 32-year-old Venezuelan woman living in the country without authorization was arrested in connection with a December Chicago shooting that killed three, accused of driving the gunmen from the scene.Chicago, IL · May 13, 2025 · Fox News, La Verdad, Voz
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Quentin W.: Minneapolis teacher tackled, choked by Border Patrol agents while shielding studentsQuentin Williams, an assistant teacher known as 'Mr. Q' at Roosevelt High School, was tackled and choked by agents while shielding students during a school dismissal. Charges against him were later dropped.Minneapolis, MN · Jul 15, 2026 · KSTP, MSN, Newsweek +4
Teachers and union organizers among 15 anti-ICE activists arrested in MinnesotaCal Robinet, a 37-year-old union electrician, was among 15 teachers, organizers and activists arrested June 16 and charged with conspiracy during a Minnesota immigration enforcement operation.St. Paul, MN · Jun 16, 2026 · Star Tribune, New York Times, The Appeal +1
Erik D.: College professor and father of two detained by ICE after car stopErik Davis, a 53-year-old Buddhist studies professor and father of two, was stopped and arrested en route to a medical appointment, among 15 charged with conspiracy over anti-ICE organizing.“It was a federal invasion and terror campaign on our streets. The behavior of these masked thugs was horrific … they were ripping human beings out of families.” — Erik DavisSt. Paul, MN · Jun 16, 2026 · The Guardian, Bold, Mogazamasr +2
Treasure T.: Special education teacher arrested after protesting ICE raids in MinneapolisTreasure Thoreson, a Minneapolis special education teacher, was arrested at her home in June 2026 after joining blockades protesting ICE's headquarters, and now faces conspiracy charges with 14 others.Minneapolis, MN · Jun 2026 · NPR, Cash Walk Labs
Christina R.: U.S. citizen teaching assistant held by ICE 12 hours without chargesChristina Rank, 25, a U.S. citizen classroom assistant, was held nearly 12 hours after ICE agents said she rammed their vehicle outside a Minnesota school; witnesses dispute that account. No charges have been filed.Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota · Jan 13, 2026 · Yahoo News, Threads, Twin Cities +5
New York
Brooklyn green card holder detained by ICE, stripped of status over postsA Brooklyn writer, filmmaker, art teacher and activist with a green card was detained leaving his apartment and sent to a Louisiana facility after his legal status was terminated over his social media posts.Brooklyn, NY · Jul 4, 2026 · The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Wire, Muted News- Julien P.: French tennis coach held a month in ICE detention, shackled, then expelledJulien Pereira, a 26-year-old French tennis coach, was held a month at a Batavia, New York ICE facility, facing shackling and poor food and water, before being released on bail and ordered to leave within 15 days.Batavia, NY · Feb 4, 2026 · NPR, KUOW
North Carolina
Venkata V.: Diabetic NC teacher and grandmother with green card detained at ICE check-inVenkata Vasamsetty, 59, a special-needs substitute teacher and grandmother, was detained during a routine check-in even after her case was dismissed, and held for two weeks before a judge granted her bond.Charlotte, NC · Aug 24, 2026 · NRI Pulse, Times of India, Times Now News +11Heather M.: School bus driver tackled, arrested while protesting at Charlotte ICE officeHeather Morrow, a 44-year-old Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus driver, was tackled and arrested on November 16 while protesting at an ICE office. Video shows her touching an agent's shoulder before being thrown to the ground.Charlotte, NC · Nov 16, 2025 · Charlotte Observer, Spectrum Local News
Pennsylvania
Texas
Oswaldo P.: Padres minor-league coach detained by ICE at El Paso airportOswaldo José Pirela, 34, a Padres minor-league coaching coordinator and father of two living near Phoenix, was detained at El Paso airport while traveling for work; he was released on bond August 24.El Paso, TX · Aug 24, 2026 · NBC DFW, NBC News, 10News +13
Berhanu K.: Award-winning pharmacy instructor with work permit detained by ICE at Dallas airportBerhanu Kibret, a University of Maryland pharmacy instructor just honored as teacher of the year, was detained at Dallas airport returning from a conference and remains held despite valid work authorization.Dallas, TX · Aug 19, 2026 · The Banner, CBS News, The Guardian +7
Maryam T. and Eissa H.: Professor, husband, teen son held by ICE 120+ days despite green cardsA college psychology professor, her husband, an educator, and their 16-year-old son have been held over 120 days despite holding valid green cards, after a judge temporarily barred their deportation.Dilley, TX · Aug 17, 2026 · NBC Los Angeles, Mirror, Daily of USA +3
Roberto L.F.: Cuban ESL teacher detained 297 days by ICERoberto López Falcón, a Cuban-born ESL teacher at an Austin elementary school, was detained 297 days after fleeing persecution for refusing to teach Communist ideology. A judge ruled his detention illegal and ordered his release.San Antonio, TX · Jun 1, 2026 · FOX 7 Austin, Austin American-Statesman, Austin Current +2
Gerald A.: Cameroonian teacher beaten in ICE detention at Fort Bliss after requesting lawyerGerald Akari Angye, 35, a former Cameroon teacher who fled torture, was beaten by guards at Fort Bliss's Camp East Montana after asking for a lawyer, then held in solitary 15 days. He joined an ACLU lawsuit over conditions there.El Paso, TX · May 30, 2026 · NPR, ACLU, ACLU of Texas +2
Mauro H.: Houston high school soccer captain detained by ICE, deported to HondurasMauro Yosueth Henriquez, 18, a Sam Houston soccer captain and volunteer coach, was detained with his father during a December immigration check-in and deported to Honduras after nearly four months in custody.Houston, TX · Apr 10, 2026 · Click2Houston, Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle +2
Igor B.: Russian art teacher detained at routine ICE check-in, held six weeksIgor Babkin, a Russian art teacher who fled political persecution, was detained at a routine check-in despite legal status and held six weeks in Pearsall, Texas. A judge ordered him freed in March 2026.Pearsall, TX · Mar 20, 2026 · San Antonio Express-News, San Antonio Express-News, The Moscow Times +3Yaniuska L.C. and María Isabella B.L.: 7-year-old girl battles depression in ICE detentionMaría Isabella, 7, an excellent student, has been held with her mother in a Texas detention center since January, drawing pictures of herself and her mom crying.San Antonio, TX · Jan 6, 2026 · Univision, Archyde, revistasuceso.com
Roberto L.F.: Fifth-grade teacher and four other Austin school workers detained by ICERoberto López Falcón, a Cuban-born fifth-grade teacher and Austin ISD's Campus Teacher of Promise, was detained at a routine check-in and remained held as of November, leaving his family struggling.Austin, TX · Nov 2025 · FOX 7 Austin, Houston Chronicle, KXAN +2
Alex M.: Morehouse grad detained by ICE near DallasAlex Maganda, a Morehouse College alum and former football player turned sales executive, was detained by ICE outside Dallas and held at a Texas facility while former classmates rallied for his release.Dallas, TX · Jul 11, 2025 · Capital B News (Atlanta), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, WBLS







