Human Impact Project

Bay Area Mother and Children Detained by ICE After Check-in

Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, a Colombian asylum-seeker, was arrested by ICE officers on Tuesday evening after reporting for her check-in at the ICE office in San Francisco. She was detained along with her two children, ages 5 and 7, with the 7-year-old boy being deaf. Immigration attorneys have been unable to locate the family and suspect ICE moved them out of California to prevent legal intervention.

Haitian asylum seeker dies in ICE custody in Arizona

Emmanuel Damas, a Haitian asylum seeker, died in ICE custody at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona after being held for four months. A local official stated the man died after not receiving timely medical care for an infected tooth. He is at least the 10th detainee to die in ICE custody in the year.

Man dies in ICE custody at Adelanto detention center

Alberto Gutierrez, 48, died while in custody at an ICE detention center in Adelanto, California. Family members claim he was denied medical care despite requesting help, and stated his death could have been prevented with proper medical attention.

Nigerian man deported after 10 months in ICE detention

A Nigerian man who spent 10 months in U.S. ICE detention has been deported back to Nigeria after 10 years overseas. He expressed gratitude for being freed and reunited with his family.

Nigerian man describes harsh conditions during deportation flight

A Nigerian man shared his experience being deported from the United States, describing being chained for 36+ hours on a flight with other detainees. He and others were kept in restraints including handcuffs, leg cuffs, and waist chains throughout the flight, even after leaving U.S. airspace, and experienced poor treatment from ICE and security contractors.

Man Released from ICE Detention After 10 Years Overseas

A man posted on Instagram about being released from ICE custody after returning to the United States following 10 years overseas. He expressed gratitude for his freedom, his family's support, and those who provided assistance during his detention.

ICE Denied Asthma Inhaler to 12-Year-Old for 9 Days

According to an immigration coalition post, ICE denied asthma inhalers to a 12-year-old child for 9 days while claiming it was pending medical review. The child experienced an asthma attack during lights-out and was found unresponsive on the floor by guards at 6 AM. The post characterizes this as a preventable death resulting from ICE protocol.

Columbia University student detained by ICE at campus housing

Elaina Aghayeva, a Columbia University student from Azerbaijan, was detained by ICE agents at her campus housing around 6:30 a.m. ICE agents allegedly posed as police officers with fake badges to gain entry. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated he received assurances from President Trump that she would be released imminently, and Aghayeva later confirmed she was released and safe.

ICE stops U.S. citizen, breaks car window, drags her from vehicle

ICE agents stopped a U.S. citizen, smashed her car window, and forcibly removed her from the vehicle despite her having a valid passport. The agents read her passport, determined she was a citizen, and left the scene. The incident was witnessed by the woman's child who called 911 during the encounter.

Undocumented man detained by ICE, faces deportation to Iran

Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, a 41-year-old undocumented resident, has been in federal custody since June after HSI agents arrested him and his wife at their home without a warrant. After taking a plea deal and being released in late November, he was immediately detained by ICE and has since been held at Imperial Regional Detention Facility in Calexico, California. ICE has repeatedly asked him to sign a deportation order to Iran, where his attorney says he faces an execution order due to his opposition to the Islamist regime.

5-year-old twins detained at Texas family detention center for 8 months

Two 5-year-old twins have been held at the Dilley family detention center in Texas for 8 months after an immigration judge denied their family's bond request, citing lack of property and assets. The twins are detained alongside their siblings and mother in conditions described as overcrowded and unsafe, with limited medical care and legal access.

Oscar Polanco detained at green card appointment, deported to Guatemala

Oscar Polanco was detained at a green card appointment in October and faced deportation to Guatemala, a country he had not lived in for 20 years. His wife Geraldine, originally from Peru, witnessed him being taken away in handcuffs. The couple were separated for nearly three months before reuniting at an airport in Peru.

ICE Officers Detain Mother After Pulling Over Father with Children

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers pulled over a father traveling with his children in Douglasville, Georgia. Officers instructed the father to contact his wife, and the family initially believed he was the target of enforcement action. However, when the wife arrived at the scene, authorities detained her instead.

Mother detained by ICE after leaving hiding to feed daughter

A mother named Marisol and her 11-year-old daughter hid in their Minnesota home for two months to avoid ICE raids, surviving on donated food. When provisions ran out, the mother ventured out to purchase food for her daughter and was detained by ICE agents. The daughter, now being cared for by an activist, has a pending asylum case and is advocating for her mother's release.

DHS agents detained Columbia University student using fake missing person poster

Federal agents from the Department of Homeland Security detained Ellie Aghayeva, a Columbia University senior, early Thursday by allegedly presenting a fake missing person poster of a 5-year-old to gain access to university housing. The student posted on social media stating "DHS illegally arrested me. Please help." According to the university, the agents failed to present a judicial warrant required to access Columbia's campus.

ICE Enforcement Activity Escalates in Santa Barbara

During an ICE enforcement activity on Carrillo Street in Santa Barbara, 80-year-old local attorney Doug Hayes intervened to move a backpack, which caused the situation to quickly escalate. A growing crowd recorded the scene while whistles rang out in protest.

DHS Detains 100+ People on Tarmac During New Hampshire Blizzard

DHS allowed more than 100 detainees on a charter plane to sit for 12 hours on an airport tarmac in Portsmouth, New Hampshire during a blizzard with temperatures at 22 degrees. The plane had landed in the early morning hours with 35mph wind gusts preventing it from reaching the terminal. Detainees were eventually moved inside the terminal after about 12 hours and were fed and monitored before the plane continued its journey to Bulgaria.

Two-month-old deported from ICE family detention center in Texas

A two-month-old boy named Juan Nicolás and his family were detained at ICE's family detention center in Dilley, Texas. When the baby developed bronchitis, ICE deported the family, leaving them stranded on the Mexican border without support. With help from a Univision reporter, the family eventually reached Guatemala where they reunited with relatives.

Journalists arrested investigating Trump deportation scheme to Cameroon

Four journalists and an attorney were detained in Cameroon while investigating Trump's alleged scheme to deport third-country immigrants to the African nation. The group was held at a state-run compound in the capital, with police confiscating their equipment. All five individuals have since been released.

A woman has given birth at ICE's Dilley internment camp

ICE Agents Arrest Volunteer Observer, Pepper Spray Attorney

Two federal ICE agents arrested 27-year-old Jack Randmaa and pepper sprayed 80-year-old attorney Doug Hayes during a chaotic scene in downtown Santa Barbara. Randmaa, a volunteer ICE observer, was allegedly arrested after approaching an ICE vehicle on Carrillo Street, with agents accusing him of slashing a tire, though his father claims the charges are false.

ICE detains 16-year-old asylum-seeker, transfers him out of state

Federal ICE agents detained a 16-year-old asylum-seeker in Minnesota and transferred him to a Michigan facility run by Bethany Christian Services, despite his father living locally. The teen was labeled an "unaccompanied minor" and his family and attorneys had difficulty locating him. While in custody, the minor reported being injected with vaccines without consent.

Woman adopted from Iran faces deportation despite American upbringing

A woman adopted from Iran at age 2 and raised in the American Midwest is facing deportation proceedings despite having lived in the U.S. her entire life and considering herself fully American. She was excluded from automatic citizenship under the 2000 Child Citizenship Act because she entered on the wrong type of visa. She fears deportation to Iran due to her Christian faith and her late father's U.S. military service, and has no family or language connections to the country.

Pregnant woman deported; newborn at Dilley needs assistance

According to an Instagram post by eachstephome, a pregnant woman named Juana was deported while 8 months pregnant with her two small children. The post also notes that a second pregnant woman at the Dilley detention facility gave birth to a baby girl and is requesting assistance for the mother and newborn.

Dakota Woman Detained at Fort Snelling ICE Encounter

Sophie Watso, a Dakota woman, was detained for more than 48 hours at Fort Snelling after encountering ICE officers while driving in Minneapolis. When she blew a whistle to alert others to federal presence, officers accused her of interference, broke her car window, and forcibly removed her from the vehicle. For Indigenous leaders, the incident triggers historical trauma, as Fort Snelling is the same site where Dakota ancestors were imprisoned after the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War.

Woman deported to Mexico while U.S. citizen husband and son remain in Alaska

A woman seeking asylum in Alaska was detained by federal agents and deported to Mexico along with her two youngest children, while her 18-year-old son remains held at Anchorage jail. The woman, married to a U.S. citizen, had applied for asylum from violence in Jalisco and had missed one hearing in her case. Immigration advocates say the case represents a shift to harsher ICE tactics in Alaska, particularly regarding the detention of her 5-year-old child.

ICE car chase ends in multi-vehicle crash injuring three children

A dangerous car chase involving ICE agents attempting to make an arrest resulted in a multi-vehicle crash in Newark, New Jersey, leaving three children injured. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the operation as reckless, noting that New Jersey law prohibits law enforcement from engaging in car chases without an immediate threat.

Russian tenant in ICE custody faces eviction in absentia

A 42-year-old San Francisco tenant from Russia who fled political persecution is in federal immigration custody and faces eviction by his landlord due to his inability to appear in court. He is scheduled to lose his housing on Monday at a McCallister Street eviction hearing. ICE has not responded to requests about whether they would allow the man to appear virtually.

ICE Urged to Release Detained Pomona Day Laborer with Medical Condition

Advocates and allies are requesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials immediately release Ramiro Pacheco, a Pomona resident and day laborer currently held at Adelanto Detention Center. According to his family, Pacheco has a medical condition that is rapidly deteriorating while in custody.

U.S. Citizen Injured During ICE Stop in Salem, Oregon

A U.S. citizen and Latina woman named Maria was stopped by ICE agents on a Salem street, during which officers broke her car window and pulled her from the vehicle. After discovering her passport, agents left abruptly. Maria sustained a concussion, torn rotator cuff, and bruised ribs from the incident, which advocates say involved racial profiling.

ICE Detains Man After 43 Years Wrongful Imprisonment

Subramanyam "Subu" Vedam, a 64-year-old man who spent 43 years wrongfully imprisoned, has been detained by ICE as he fights a decades-old deportation order. He was denied bail and remains in ICE custody awaiting resolution of his case.

Mother and infant missing after ICE hospital discharge in Texas

Mireya Lopez-Sanchez and her two-month-old son Juan Nicolas were discharged from the hospital after being held in ICE custody at the Dilley family detention center in Texas. The mother and son have not been heard from since their discharge, missing scheduled phone calls with family and reporter interviews. A judge ordered their deportation to Mexico earlier that day but did not provide a date or time.

ICE Agent Chase Kills Special Education Teacher Dr. Linda Davis

Dr. Linda Davis, a beloved special education teacher in Savannah, was killed when an ICE agent pursued a man through her neighborhood and into a school zone, resulting in a collision near her school. The post highlights this as a preventable tragedy, noting that Chatham County has no-chase policies designed to protect civilians, and calls for accountability and an end to ICE operations.

15-year-old with intellectual disability mistreated at Dilley Detention Center

A 15-year-old girl with the intellectual capacity of a 7-year-old, identified as Cariexis Quintero, reported that guards at Dilley Detention Center stormed her room searching for drawings and letters, destroying what they found. According to reporter Lidia Terrazas, this is one of several similar complaints received about conditions at the facility.

Mother and sick baby deported, abandoned at Mexico border

Mireya Lopez-Sanchez and her two-month-old baby were deported and dropped off alone at the Mexico border after being detained at the Dilley, Texas ICE facility. The infant became sick with bronchitis while in custody, was rushed to the hospital, but was denied treatment before being deported.

Omar's father detained by CBP in Ontario, California

Omar's father was detained by Customs and Border Patrol in Ontario, California. He is Omar's only source of support. A fundraiser has been organized to help cover Omar's housing and legal fees for his father's case.

ICE raid in Norristown PA targeting U.S. citizens without warrant

ICE agents conducted a raid in Norristown, Pennsylvania, targeting a family who claim to be U.S. citizens. According to the family's statement, agents rammed into a family member's car, threatened them with a loaded gun, and attempted to take someone without a warrant, despite the person living in the residence and no warrant being presented.

Pregnant Woman Detained by ICE, Deported to Nicaragua

Leonela Liliana Gomez Hernandez, a 27-year-old woman in her eighth month of pregnancy, was detained by ICE on Wednesday while en route to a prenatal appointment in South Central Los Angeles. She was deported to Nicaragua on Friday morning, according to the activist group Union del Barrio.

Two-month-old baby detained by ICE in poor conditions

Juan Nicolas, a two-month-old baby, is the youngest person currently in ICE custody and is being held with his mother Mireya López Sánchez at a family detention center in Dulles, Texas. Due to poor conditions including rotten food and contaminated water, the mother stopped producing milk and the baby became sick. The child suffered a medical emergency but has not been seen by a doctor as there is none on site and immigration officials refuse to send him to a hospital.

Naturalized U.S. Citizen Violently Detained by ICE Despite Valid ID

Emmanuel Sackie, a Liberian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, was violently detained by ICE in a Family Dollar parking lot in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, despite possessing a driver's license and photo ID. He was taken to an unknown location and subsequently sent to the hospital. Sackie stated this was his first time in handcuffs and expressed that he was treated unfairly based on his race.

Chicago teen fighting father's detention dies of cancer

Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old Chicago resident, died from metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare aggressive cancer. Torres had gained national attention after her undocumented father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was detained by immigration agents during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown called 'Operation Midway Blitz,' and she posted videos and gave interviews calling for his release.

Federal agent fires projectiles at observers in Maine parking lot

A federal immigration agent fired paintball-like projectiles at cars of at least two people observing agents in a Home Depot parking lot in South Portland, Maine. The incident occurred when onlookers did not immediately leave the area where approximately six agents had gathered. The projectiles left sticky orange marks on windshields, bumpers, and car doors, with videos showing armed officers and one holding a device resembling a paintball gun.

ICE raid near school bus stop frightens children in South Jersey

ICE agents conducted a raid near a bus stop where fourth and fifth grade students were waiting for their school bus early Thursday morning. Armed and masked agents frightened the children, who ran in fear, with some students reporting that agents followed them home. Ring camera footage captured footage of the children running and screaming.

Woman detained at DHS office during citizenship application process

Terez Metry was detained by immigration agents during a routine meeting at the Department of Homeland Security office on Brick Church Pike in Nashville. She had submitted Form I-130 as the first step toward obtaining a Green Card to become a U.S. citizen like her husband of three years. Her husband believes she is being taken to Louisiana for removal proceedings despite following immigration procedures carefully.

Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia released from hospital, returned to ICE custody

Palestinian activist Leqaa Kordia was released from the hospital and returned to ICE custody at Prairieland Detention Facility in North Texas, where she has been detained for almost a year. In a statement, Kordia described experiencing her first seizure while in the facility's medical unit, which she attributes to the cruel confinement and inhumane conditions of her detention.

Houston students protest ICE detention of senior soccer captain

Houston students marched to protest the ICE detention of senior soccer captain Mauro Yosueth Henriquez and his father. Classmates called for his release so he could graduate with his class.

Young girl detained at Dilley facility attempts suicide

A young girl detained at the Dilley immigration facility attempted to take her own life over the weekend. DHS responded with a statement characterizing it as a "self-harm incident," which advocates argue minimizes the serious trauma and mental health risks children face in immigration detention facilities.

Minneapolis woman pepper sprayed and detained during ICE raid protest

Patty O'Keefe, a Minneapolis resident, was pepper sprayed and detained for eight hours without charges after she intervened during what she describes as heavily armed agents conducting door-to-door enforcement actions in her neighborhood. O'Keefe wrote about the incident in a USA Today opinion column, describing the agents as violently grabbing people without warrants.

Friends detained by ICE without warrant in unmarked vehicles

According to an Instagram post, two individuals (described as a father and son) were detained by ICE agents who arrived in unmarked cars without a warrant. The post alleges the agents blocked in the vehicle, broke a window, and used force during the detention, including choking one individual with a jacket.

Immigration raid at factory separates mother from children

Hilda Gloria Yanez-Zavala, who came to the U.S. from El Salvador three years ago and was granted asylum, was detained during an immigration raid at a factory in Cato where she worked legally. She was separated from her two sons and held in detention for a month before deciding to self-deport, leaving her adolescent children facing the difficult choice of whether to stay in America or return to El Salvador.