Human Impact Project

Maykel and his five cousins were detained in shelter facilities for four months after trekking hundreds of miles to reunite with their mother Maria. Under Trump administration rules, the children remained in detention despite their parent being available to care for them. Families across New York and the country are using habeas corpus petitions as a legal tool to challenge prolonged detentions of unaccompanied minors.

Dr. Rubeliz Bolívar Barrios was released on bail after a judge ordered her release following over a month of detention at El Valle Detention Center. The 33-year-old physician, who held a valid work permit through 2030 and was working as a medical resident, was arrested at McAllen International Airport in April 2026 despite presenting valid documentation. Her legal team will continue to appeal the visa violation allegations that led to her detention. Her 5-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen, was released after nearly 19 hours in custody.

A.G., a 26-year-old Venezuelan national with a pending asylum application and valid work authorization, was detained by ICE agents outside his apartment in Orange County as he prepared to leave for work. Court records showed he was lawfully in the country. A federal judge ordered his release six days later without a hearing, but ICE retained his documents including his driver's license and work permit.

Bayron Rovidio Marin, an immigrant, was detained by federal agents in unmarked vehicles and sustained serious injuries. He was admitted to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center from August 27 to October 7, 2025, where ICE agents were stationed in his room under constant guard. During his hospitalization, hospital staff allowed federal agents to dictate his medical treatment, chain him to a bed, medicate him, and question him about his immigration status while restricting his access to family and attorneys. MALDEF filed a claim under California's Tort Claims Act seeking $250,000 in damages against Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for discriminatory treatment, privacy violations, and unlawful cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Bryam Escobar Martinez was detained by ICE while on his way to work in Minnesota on the same day federal officials announced ramped up enforcement operations in the Twin Cities. His wife Estefany Escobar and their family are affected by his detention. ICE agents arrested a 22-year-old man on March 1 while he was on his way to work in Hopkins, Minnesota. Agents surrounded his car, broke the windows, and forcibly detained him. He was transported hundreds of miles away to Georgia, leaving his wife alone with their 4-year-old twin sons, one of whom has asthma and convulsions requiring a nebulizer.