People taken at a traffic stop in Austin, TX
Reported cases describe ICE detaining people after routine traffic stops in Austin, TX, including a father and young son held at Dilley, construction workers detained outside City Hall, a teenage soccer player sent to Karnes County, and a mother and children deported within 24 hours of a check-in. Some were released, others deported or still detained. First documented May 2025, these stops became recurring by August 2026, and make up a larger share of recent reported cases than earlier ones.
First documented May 2025, recurring since Aug 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.
9 stories in 1 state. What accompanies this practice →
“The detention of Liam and my brother-in-law was cruel; they are not criminals—they were simply on their way to a soccer match. Liam is a beautiful, intelligent, and big-hearted little boy. My sister is devastated, and so are we.”
Texas
Patricia: Austin mother detained by ICE near son's school bus stopA mother identified as Patricia was detained by ICE near her son's school bus stop in North Austin, crying and worried no one could pick up her children. She was released about 10 minutes later.Austin, TX · Oct 15, 2026 · Univision, Austin American-Statesman, KXAN +4
Wilber G.P.: Venezuelan DoorDash driver shot in back by ICE agent, partially paralyzedWilber Rafael Garcés Pérez, a 28-year-old Venezuelan asylum seeker delivering for DoorDash, was shot in the back by an ICE agent, leaving him partially paralyzed with a bullet near his spine.Austin, TX · Oct 4, 2026 · Austin American-Statesman, BBC, Local 10 +42
Victor M.N. and Liam: Father and 5-year-old son detained by ICE, deported to MexicoVictor Martinez Nieto and his 5-year-old son Liam were detained at a traffic stop on their way to a soccer game and held at a Dilley detention center. They were deported together to Mexico.Austin, TX · Aug 25, 2026 · Austin American-Statesman, Scripps News, CBS Austin +3
Liam T. and Victor M.N.: 5-year-old detained with father in Austin, ICE refuses release to motherLiam Tadeo, 5, days from starting kindergarten, was detained with his father after a traffic stop in Austin and held at the Dilley family facility. His mother says his bedroom remains untouched.“The detention of Liam and my brother-in-law was cruel; they are not criminals—they were simply on their way to a soccer match. Liam is a beautiful, intelligent, and big-hearted little boy. My sister is devastated, and so are we.” — Patricia Resendiz, Liam's auntAustin, TX · Aug 20, 2026 · CBS Austin, Newsweek, The Independent +10
Four construction workers detained by ICE outside Austin City HallFour construction workers were detained outside Austin City Hall after a traffic stop for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, with their phones confiscated and their families left not knowing where they were taken.Austin, TX · Aug 6, 2026 · CBS Austin, Austin American-Statesman, KUTX Studio +2
Houston worker detained 40 days after suspected racial-profiling traffic stop by ICEMarco Antonio Osorio, 50, who has installed fiber optic cables in Houston since 1993 and supports an autistic son, was held 40 days after a suspected racial-profiling traffic stop despite showing proof of his pending residency case.Austin, TX · Jun 10, 2026 · The Guardian
Luis Fernando C.C.: Austin teen soccer goalie detained by ICE over expired registration stickerLuis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria, 18, a varsity soccer goalie, was detained after a traffic stop for an expired registration sticker and sent to Karnes County. A judge ordered his release so he could take finals and attend graduation.Austin, TX · May 27, 2026 · Sahan Journal, MSN, KXAN +11
Otofu A.: UT Austin graduate held a month in two Houston-area detention facilitiesOtofu Ayaku, a UT Austin graduate from Nigeria, was detained for a month in Houston-area facilities after a traffic stop. Now freed on bond with an ankle monitor, their immigration case continues.Austin, TX · Apr 7, 2026 · TPR, Puffed
Denisse P.V.: Austin mother and three children, two U.S. citizens, deported by ICEA Mexican woman and her three children, two of them U.S. citizens, were arrested after she reported to a Pflugerville processing center following a traffic stop. The family was deported within 24 hours.Austin, TX · May 6, 2025 · KUT, KVUE, Austin American-Statesman