Social worker detained at ICE detention center protest in FloridaJessica Ramirez Vasquez, a social worker, was arrested on felony charges after using a bullhorn at an August 23 protest outside a Florida detention center where officers fired pepper balls and rubber bullets.Jan 22, 2026·Miami, FL·Syria·CourtListener,Instagram📦
Eight months pregnant asylum seeker deported to Colombia in medical distressZharick Daniela Buitrago Ortiz, 21 and eight months pregnant, was deported to Colombia in medical distress; a judge's order blocking her removal arrived about three hours after her flight left.Jan 22, 2026·Atlanta, GA·Colombia·The Guardian📦,Law360📦,FOX 11 Los Angeles📦,19th News📦,The Columbus Dispatch,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution📦,Instagram📦
ICE detainee with epilepsy alleges denied medication, pepper-sprayed after seizureAndranik Grigoryan, held in Indiana, suffered a severe seizure after staff withheld his epilepsy medication, then was pepper-sprayed through his cell door while still recovering upon return from the hospital.Jan 22, 2026·Miami, IN·Newsweek📦,ACLU of Indiana📦,The Indiana Lawyer,Ink Free News
Ecuadoran asylum seeker with epilepsy suffered seizures after ICE took her medicationAn Ecuadoran asylum seeker held in Maine for five months was transferred without her epilepsy medication, shackled without food or bathroom access, and suffered seizures; a judge ordered her released and the government to pay her legal fees.Jan 22, 2026·Portland, ME·Ecuador·Bangor Daily News📦,The Maine Monitor📦
Indigenous people detained on site of former Native American concentration campAt least three Indigenous people, including Jose Ramirez, a Red Lake descendant, were detained in early 2026 at a Minnesota building built on a former Dakota concentration camp site. Ramirez was held six hours.Jan 22, 2026·Minneapolis, MN·ICT News📦,Native Sun News📦,PieFed,United Resource Connection,Instagram📦
Cameroonian asylum seeker detained by ICE during routine check-inArmande Namegni, 30, a Cameroonian asylum seeker, was detained during a routine check-in in St. Louis over a shoplifting charge she says was wrongly attributed to her. She remains jailed in Rolla without bond, awaiting her asylum hearing.Jan 22, 2026·St. Louis, MO·Cameroon·St. Louis Public Radio📦,NBC Washington📦,The Baltimore Banner+1📦,WUSA 9📦
Dozens of Mainers held weeks by ICE, many losing their jobsEvaristo Kalonji, an Angolan church organist, was among dozens of Mainers detained in a January 2026 ICE operation and moved between out-of-state facilities. Judges later ordered about 35 released.Jan 22, 2026·South Portland, ME·Angola·Bangor Daily News📦,Press Herald📦,CourtListener
Immigrant out on bond or parole detained again without a hearingAn immigrant previously released on bond was redetained in January 2026 without a hearing before a neutral judge. A federal court ordered his immediate release under his original conditions, citing a due process violation.Jan 21, 2026·CourtListener📦
Mother of 4 detained by ICE after school drop-off in PortlandMicheline Ntumba, a Portland mother of four from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was detained after dropping her child at school. Agents followed her home and took her away without explanation; she has lived here nearly 10 years.Jan 21, 2026·Portland, ME·DR Congo·News Center Maine📦,The Maine Monitor📦,Press Herald📦,KPTV📦,OPB📦
Angolan asylum seeker detained by ICE at routine check-in in ScarboroughYanick Joao Carneiro, an Angolan man with no criminal record, was detained during a routine immigration check-in in Scarborough despite having filed for asylum. A judge ordered ICE to explain the detention and temporarily blocked his deportation for 72 hours.Jan 21, 2026·Scarborough, ME·Angola·The Maine Monitor📦,Press Herald📦,WGAN📦
U.S. citizen, 23, held by ICE two days, says agents caused concussionNasra Ahmed, a 23-year-old U.S. citizen from Minnesota, says ICE agents handcuffed her, caused a head injury leading to a seizure, and used a racial slur during her two-day detention. She was released without charges.Jan 21, 2026·St. Paul, MN·CBS News📦,Leibniz University Hannover,DIYA TV USA📦,KFGO📦,Twin Cities📦,Fox 9+1📦,KTTC📦,Bring Me The News📦,Instagram📦
Chicago children experience fear, trauma amid ICE enforcement operationsChicago children have shown fear and trauma from ICE operations, including avoiding school activities, while families consider guardianship transfers and use less healthcare and schooling.Jan 21, 2026·New York, NY·25 News Now📦,Daily Herald📦,Instagram📦
Five-year-old U.S. citizen missing after ICE transfer in San AntonioA five-year-old U.S. citizen, Génesis Ester Gutiérrez Castellanos, went missing after being transferred to ICE custody when her mother was arrested. She does not appear in any detention or child welfare database.Jan 21, 2026·San Antonio, TX·Nicaragua·Univision+1📦,Instagram📦
Portland observer filming agents threatened with ICE watchlist and home visitElinor Hilton, 23, was filming federal agents in Portland when they threatened to put her on a watchlist and visit her home. She testified in a lawsuit over surveillance of observers.Jan 21, 2026·Portland, ME·NPR📦,TIME,Central Maine📦,Protect Democracy,Institute for Policy Studies
Father in U.S. since 1987 pressured by ICE to sign deportation papersA man who has lived in the U.S. since 1987 was detained in Minnesota and pressured to sign deportation paperwork without a lawyer, despite years of compliant immigration check-ins.Fundraiser onlyJan 21, 2026·Minnesota·Vietnam·GoFundMe📦
Leaked ICE memo lets agents force entry into homes without warrantsA leaked ICE memo lets agents enter homes without judicial warrants using only administrative orders, amid reports of forced entry into a U.S. citizen's home in St. Paul.Jan 21, 2026·Austin, TX·WPDE📦,Instagram📦
Federal agents involved in shooting during LA immigration enforcement operationA vehicle pursuit during an immigration operation in Willowbrook ended in a crash and gunfire as agents moved to detain the occupants. No one was hit, and all were taken into custody.Jan 21, 2026·Willowbrook, CA·FOX6📦,NBC Los Angeles📦,FOX 11 Los Angeles📦,Sacramento Bee📦
Gardener detained by ICE on way to work in ClovisA gardener was detained on his way to work in Clovis by two DEA agents and one federal agent, according to a local faith-based community organization.Jan 21, 2026·Clovis, CA·The Fresno Bee📦,KCRG📦,Lubbock Online📦
Two teenagers handcuffed and detained by CBP officers in MinneapolisTwo teenagers were handcuffed and detained by federal agents in south Minneapolis on a Wednesday afternoon, while a third teen who witnessed it was left crying in the car.Jan 21, 2026·Minneapolis, MN·CBS News+1📦,CNN📦,MPR News📦
Gardener claiming dual citizenship detained by ICE in Long BeachA gardener detained in Long Beach's University Park Estates said he was a dual citizen born at a local hospital. The mayor called the operation an "abduction."Jan 21, 2026·Long Beach, CA·Mexico·Patch📦,Press Telegram📦,Long Beach Post+1📦,Sierra Gorda Tribune📦
