Refugee, 64, held by ICE faces deportation to Vietnam after 45 yearsDong Van Nguyen, 64, a Vietnamese refugee who has lived in the U.S. 45 years, was detained during a routine check-in and now faces deportation to Vietnam.May 21, 2025·Dorchester, MA·Vietnam·Dot News📦,Portland Tribune📦,WBAL📦,WCVB📦
Two U.S. citizen brothers arrested without warrants by ICE in North CarolinaTwo U.S. citizen brothers, arrested without being asked their immigration status during North Carolina enforcement sweeps, are among five plaintiffs suing over warrantless ICE arrests statewide.Jan 2026·NC·Courier-Post📦,WUNC📦,Enlace Latino NC,Augusta Chronicle
Colombian boy's mother detained at ICE check-in, leaving child traumatizedJacob, a 9-year-old with a pending asylum case, watched his mother get detained at a routine ICE check-in while his father waited nearby. She spent five months held before release, leaving Jacob unable to sleep, eat, or attend school.Jan 2026·Los Angeles, CA·Colombia·KFF Health News📦
Asylum-seeking mother detained at ICE check-in as 9-year-old son watchesA Colombian asylum seeker with no criminal record was detained at an ICE check-in as her 9-year-old son Jacob and husband waited in the room. Held almost five months before her release, Jacob developed severe anxiety and depression afterward.Jan 2026·Los Angeles, CA·Colombia·CBS News📦
Minnesota father deported to Guatemala by ICE, young son stops eatingHugo Diaz, 49, built a transportation business in Minnesota before being arrested and deported to Guatemala, leaving his wife and two sons in Burnsville. His younger son has stopped eating since.Jan 1, 2026·Burnsville, MN·Guatemala·KVRR📦,Minnesota Reformer📦,MPR News📦
Hearing-impaired 71-year-old great-grandmother held 10 months by ICE in ArizonaMaria Cristina Tapia Cornejo, 71, a great-grandmother with a hearing impairment and family ties in Arizona, has been held at Eloy Detention Center for over 10 months and is appealing her deportation order.Jan 2026·Arizona, AZ·USA Today📦,The Arizona Republic,Tucson.com📦,Copper Courier📦,Instagram📦
1,831 people arrested in West Virginia ICE surge with state helpA statewide enforcement surge in West Virginia led to 1,831 arrests, over half collateral and most involving only immigration violations. A federal judge ordered two detainees released over constitutional concerns.Jan 2026·West Virginia·Stocktonia📦,ACLU of West Virginia📦,AOL
Fatal Encounters Show Immigration Officials' Impunity, Activists SayActivists cite the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis and two killings in San Diego as part of a pattern of questioned claims and evidence handling by immigration officials.Jan 2026·Minneapolis, MN·NPR+1📦,Associated Press📦,Capital & Main📦,Foster's Daily Democrat,SSRN
Partner deported with pending citizenship case dies crossing Rio Grande to TexasJose Sanchez was deported to Mexico despite a pending citizenship case and died in January trying to cross the Rio Grande back to his partner, Tiffany Barrera, and their family in San Antonio.Jan 2026·San Antonio, TX·Mexico·USA Today📦,Washington Post📦,Mundo Now,GoFundMe
Tow-truck driver who hooked ICE vehicle acquitted by juryTow-truck driver Bobby Nuñez was acquitted of stealing government property after hooking an ICE vehicle, part of a string of failed prosecutions against ICE protesters.Dec 31, 2025·Los Angeles, CA·The Intercept📦,CBS News📦,NBC Los Angeles,LA Mag,Townhall
La Playa Taco Shop owner deported to Mexico after two-month ICE detentionVictor Rodriguez Ocampo Sr., 54, who ran La Playa Taco Shop in Mission Beach for about 30 years, was deported to Mexico after two months at Otay Mesa Detention Center. His son's GoFundMe has raised over $18,500 for the family.Dec 31, 2025·San Diego, CA·Mexico·Times of San Diego📦,PressBee📦,10News📦,Instagram📦
Asylum-seeking shop foreman held by ICE nearly six months without a hearingA shop foreman and asylum seeker who complied with release terms for nearly three years was detained at a routine check-in and held six months without a hearing. A judge ordered his release.Dec 31, 2025·Texas·CourtListener📦
ICE agent points gun at aid volunteers outside San Antonio facilityTwo volunteers from Comrade Coffee Collective who were filming and handing out aid outside a San Antonio check-in facility had a gun pointed at them by an ICE agent driving into the site, even as they backed away.Social media onlyDec 31, 2025·San Antonio, TX·Instagram📦
U.S. citizens arrested by Border Patrol agents, chief saysBorder Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino acknowledged that his agents have arrested U.S. citizens, including on charges of assaulting federal officers, amid broader allegations of excessive force during an operation in Chicago.Dec 31, 2025·Chicago, IL·ProPublica📦,NPR📦,The New Republic+2📦,Capital & Main📦
DACA mother of two detained by ICE while Christmas shopping in PhoenixFlor Ivet Vargas-Loya, a DACA recipient and restaurant owner, is the sole provider for her two children after her husband's deportation. She was handcuffed while Christmas shopping in Phoenix despite wearing an ankle monitor.Dec 31, 2025·Arizona·Mexico·Univision📦,The Arizona Republic📦,Threads,12News📦,Shine My Crown📦,AZ Family📦,Instagram📦
U.S. citizen siblings held by ICE, force used in arrestTwo U.S. citizen siblings were detained in a Mission Bay parking lot and held for most of a day in a federal building basement before being released to their father, in what the family calls racial profiling.Dec 31, 2025·San Diego, CA·Daylight San Diego📦,SFist📦,Mission Local📦,Times of San Diego📦,ABC7 News📦,Yahoo News
Afghan man arrested again by ICE without notice or explanationAn Afghan man was re-arrested by ICE in December 2025, two years after being released on parole, with no notice or explanation given. A judge ordered him released again within one business day.Dec 30, 2025·Afghanistan·CourtListener📦
LSU nursing grad held by ICE six months after inspection sticker stopVilma Palacios, 22, a recent LSU nursing graduate who had accepted a job at Touro Infirmary, was arrested while getting a vehicle inspection sticker in June 2025. She has been held for six months at a Basile detention center.Dec 30, 2025·Belle Chasse, LA·Honduras·FOX 8📦,The Guardian📦,The Advocate📦,NOLA.com📦,Instagram+1📦
Man out on bond or parole detained again without a hearingA man previously released on bond was re-detained by immigration authorities in late December without a hearing beforehand. A court ordered his immediate release under his prior conditions.Dec 29, 2025·CourtListener📦
Seven people arrested at San Jose ICE check-in office during scheduled appointmentsSeven people were arrested inside a San Jose ICE check-in office during scheduled appointments in late December 2025. A local rapid response network said the arrests were not random and offered volunteer accompaniment for upcoming check-ins.December 29, 2025·San Jose, CA·Yahoo News📦,KRON4📦,NBC Bay Area+1📦
Man detained by ICE at his scheduled check-inA man arrested for a misdemeanor DUI was later granted pre-plea diversion with his case set for dismissal in June 2026. ICE detained him anyway at a routine check-in, and a court ordered his immediate release.Dec 29, 2025·CourtListener📦
