Human Impact Project

In a separate incident on Aug. 19, ICE agents pulled at least one person off a plane at Sea-Tac International Airport and arrested them at the gate, according to immigration attorney Jane O'Sullivan, who spoke with the detained person's travel companion. The detained person had overstayed a visa but had an active immigration application pending. O'Sullivan said 'a number of people' were taken off planes that day and later brought to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, though she could not specify how many were held. The arrests are part of a broader Department of Homeland Security enforcement effort targeting non-citizens with pending immigration cases at airports nationwide.

An Uzbek asylum seeker, a citizen of Uzbekistan, entered the United States without inspection in November 2023 and was apprehended shortly after by Customs and Border Patrol, issued a Notice to Appear, and released into the country pending removal proceedings. He resided in the US for over two years and filed an asylum application in April 2024. On August 19, 2026, he was arrested at a scheduled ICE check-in and transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. He filed a habeas corpus petition the same day, arguing his mandatory detention without a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) was unlawful. The Government argued he remained an 'applicant for admission' subject to mandatory detention. The court held that § 1225 applies only to newly arriving noncitizens, not those like him who have resided in the country for years, and that his detention was instead governed by § 1226(a). The court granted his habeas petition and ordered his immediate release.

Diana Vera, a 27-year-old Ecuadorian woman, was detained by ICE agents on August 6 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport while traveling with her husband, a U.S. citizen, to celebrate his birthday. According to her mother, Mercedes Espinoza, agents approached Vera by name and detained her, citing an existing deportation order, despite the couple presenting their marriage certificate and evidence of an ongoing process to regularize her status after she entered the U.S. legally on a visa. The Department of Homeland Security told CNN it has intensified screening at airports using data from the Transportation Security Administration to prevent people without legal status from taking domestic flights. The family has launched a fundraising campaign to cover legal costs while seeking her release on bail.

The petitioner is a native and citizen of Honduras who entered the United States without inspection in June 2022. He is currently detained at the Caroline Detention Facility. He filed a federal habeas petition arguing that his detention is governed by the discretionary detention provisions of 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) rather than the mandatory detention provisions of § 1225(b)(2), and that being held without a bond hearing violates his due process rights. The government argued he remained an 'applicant for admission' subject to mandatory detention under § 1225(b)(2) because he had not been lawfully admitted. The court found that because he was already present in the country rather than seeking admission at the border, § 1226(a)'s discretionary framework applied. The court granted the petition, ordering that he receive a bond hearing before an immigration judge within seven days and enjoining the government from denying bond or rearresting him except under specified circumstances.

A Mexican national who had lived in the United States for years after entering without inspection was detained by ICE and held at a detention facility. He filed a habeas corpus petition challenging his detention, arguing he was entitled to a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge rather than being held under mandatory detention rules. The government argued he was properly held under mandatory detention provisions as an applicant for admission. A federal district court disagreed, finding that because he had already entered and was living in the country, his detention was governed by discretionary detention provisions rather than mandatory ones. The court granted his petition, ordering that he receive a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge within seven days and barring immigration authorities from denying him bond or rearresting him except under limited circumstances.

A citizen of Algeria entered the United States in March 2023 on a B2 nonimmigrant visitor visa authorized until September 5, 2023, but did not leave as required. She timely filed for asylum in January 2024, derivative of her mother's pending I-589 application, and has no documented criminal history. On August 17, 2026, she reported to a scheduled interview and was arrested for overstaying her visa, served with an administrative warrant, and issued a Notice to Appear charging her as removable. She was transferred to and remains detained at the California City Detention Facility in California City, California. She filed a habeas corpus petition and sought a temporary restraining order, arguing she was entitled to a bond hearing where the government would bear the burden of proving she is a flight risk or danger. The court found her detention is governed by 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and granted her habeas petition, ordering that she receive a bond hearing before an immigration judge within 14 days, denying the TRO request as moot, and enjoining her re-detention absent proper notice and a further bond hearing.

A native and citizen of Georgia entered the United States without inspection in February 2023 and was briefly apprehended by CBP before being released into the country, where he resided for over three years. On August 15, 2026, he was arrested near his home in Philadelphia by ICE and transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. The government argued he was subject to mandatory detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2)(A) as an 'applicant for admission' still 'seeking admission.' He filed a habeas corpus petition on August 18, 2026, arguing his detention without a bond hearing was unlawful. The court held that § 1225(b)(2)(A) applies only to newly arriving noncitizens, not those who have resided in the country for years and were arrested in the interior, and that his detention should instead be governed by § 1226(a). The court granted his petition and ordered his immediate release.

A Ukrainian national and humanitarian parolee entered the United States about two years ago under the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program, presenting himself for inspection at JFK International Airport and being paroled in. His parole was granted through May 19, 2026, and he applied to renew it before expiration, with that application still pending. He resided in the U.S. without committing any crimes during this time. On August 15, 2026, ICE arrested him near his home and transferred him to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, where he remains detained. He filed a habeas corpus petition on August 19, 2026, arguing that his mandatory detention without a bond hearing under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b)(2) was unlawful because that provision applies only to newly arriving noncitizens, not those who have resided in the country for years. The court agreed, holding his detention should instead be governed by § 1226(a), and granted his petition, ordering his immediate release.

Amina Khalifa, a 23-year-old Seattle resident from Morocco who arrived on a student visa in 2023, was arrested by ICE agents on August 10 as she stepped off a flight at Sea-Tac International Airport, returning from a trip connecting through Houston. Her visa had expired, but she has a pending asylum application, no criminal record, and previously held work authorization while employed as a bank teller; her attorney, Olia Catala, said she fled Morocco over fears of persecution. On August 19, ICE agents removed another traveler from a flight at Sea-Tac gate, a person who had overstayed a visa but had an active immigration application, according to attorney Jane O'Sullivan; both detainees were taken to the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. Attorneys say the arrests are part of a broader Department of Homeland Security crackdown targeting people with pending immigration cases but no criminal history, part of enforcement actions reported at airports nationwide, while the Port of Seattle said its police were not notified of the ICE actions.

Iliana Noeli Lick, 30, an Argentine national who legally entered the U.S. on a tourist visa and was awaiting an asylum interview with USCIS, was arrested by ICE at Philadelphia International Airport on July 11 while attempting to travel to Kansas City to watch the Argentina national team play in the World Cup quarterfinal. Lick has worked as a nanny caring for three young children in South Philadelphia for two years and has no criminal record. She was transferred between multiple ICE detention facilities in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Texas, and New Mexico, where she was held with nine others in a small cell with one window and one toilet. After one month in custody, Lick was released on a $10,000 bond and required to surrender her passport and license and wear an ankle monitor. She is awaiting a court date to determine whether she will be deported or allowed to remain in the country.

The petitioner, who had lived in the United States for years while complying with ICE check-ins and other alternative-to-detention requirements, was taken into ICE custody on August 8, 2026 when he voluntarily appeared for a scheduled ICE check-in. He had maintained a known residence and employment and remained continuously available to immigration authorities for nearly three years prior to his detention. Immigration officials claimed he violated the conditions of his prior release on an order of recognizance after being arrested for public intoxication on July 28, 2026, though no criminal charges were ever filed and he was not notified of any alleged violation until his check-in. He was previously released under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and is currently held at a detention facility while pursuing a federal habeas corpus petition and motion for a temporary restraining order challenging his re-detention without a pre-deprivation bond hearing. The court found the government failed to identify any exigency justifying detention without prior process and ruled his re-detention violated due process. The court granted the habeas petition and TRO, ordering his immediate release under the same conditions as before his detention, with no additional restrictions such as electronic monitoring unless later deemed necessary at a hearing.

Aminata (Amina) Seck, a 26-year-old graduate student and basketball center for Kentucky State University from Dakar, Senegal, was detained by ICE on Aug. 7 at Louisville's Muhammad Ali International Airport while preparing to fly with her team to an HBCU tournament in New York. Seck entered the U.S. on a student visa in 2019 and was ordered removed after missing an immigration hearing; her attorney, Sadiqa Reynolds, said Seck never received notice of the hearing and missed the deadline while recovering from back surgery and an ACL injury. Wearing a leg brace at the time of her arrest, she has since been moved between at least four detention facilities in Kentucky and Chicago as well as a hospital over 48 days, reportedly experiencing seizures and limited access to phone calls, visitors, or basic medical care. Seck started most games last season, averaging more than 11 points and 7 rebounds, and earned All-Conference and SIAC Elite 16 academic-athletic honors. Her head coach, Amani Williams, has advocated on her behalf, and U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey said he is monitoring her situation.

Debora Kapisha, a registered nurse from Zambia working at Maine Medical Center in Portland, was detained by ICE on July 30 at Boston Logan Airport after her visa expired in November 2024. According to ICE, she entered the U.S. on May 14, 2024, and remained in the country after her visa expiration. Kapisha maintained a valid registered nurse license since June 2025 with no disciplinary action and argued she had legal work authorization while her asylum case was being adjudicated. The Maine State Nurses Association organized a rally within 24 hours of learning of her detention and mobilized community support, with over 100 Maine Medical Center nurses and supporters protesting alongside Democratic officials including Senate nominee Troy Jackson and gubernatorial nominee Hannah Pingree, describing her as a trusted, compassionate caregiver whose absence affected patient care. She was released from ICE custody on August 7 following the protests. The union and MaineHealth are working to sponsor her for permanent resident status through an EB-3 visa, for which skilled nurses are eligible and exempt from standard labor certification requirements.

A 29-year-old Mexican national who had lived in the U.S. since December 2024 on a nonimmigrant visa was arrested by immigration authorities on August 6, 2026, after overstaying his visa's authorized period, which had expired in June 2025. He had been residing with his fiancée, a U.S. citizen and homeowner, and was pursuing English classes and pilot training, with no criminal convictions. Following his arrest, he was placed in removal proceedings and detained at the Adelanto Detention Facility, where he remained held without ever receiving a bond hearing. He filed a habeas petition arguing his detention without an individualized custody determination violated due process, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Administrative Procedure Act, seeking immediate release or a constitutionally adequate bond hearing with a heightened evidentiary burden on the government. The court found he was subject to standard detention under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a) and was not entitled to release or a heightened bond standard, but ordered that he be released unless given a new bond hearing within seven days.

A Guatemalan man who has lived in the United States since 2018 and works as a waiter in Baltimore, Maryland, was detained by ICE officials in Maryland on August 5, 2026. He was subsequently transferred to the Caroline Detention Center in Virginia, where he remained held for about three weeks. DHS classified him as an 'applicant for admission' under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(a), subjecting him to mandatory detention without bond under § 1225(b)(2). He filed a habeas corpus petition arguing this classification violated the Immigration and Nationality Act, his due process rights, and the Administrative Procedure Act, and sought release and a bond hearing. The federal court found that because he was already present in the U.S. rather than arriving at the border, his detention was governed by the discretionary detention provisions of § 1226(a). The court granted his petition, ordering his prompt release and a bond hearing before an Immigration Judge within 14 days, and enjoined the government from re-detaining him absent specified circumstances.

A pregnant woman, identified as South African national Nqobile Malangeni, was detained by ICE on July 31 at Harry Reid International Airport as she prepared to board a flight back to Connecticut after a birthday vacation in Las Vegas. Agents told her they had a final order of removal against her for overstaying her authorized period of stay. She lives in Connecticut with her fiancé, a former U.S. armed forces member, who has expressed concern about being able to meet their child. Malangeni is currently being held at the Henderson Detention Center in Nevada.

A woman who has lived continuously in the United States for approximately 21 years was arrested in the interior of the country and is now detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center. She is being held under 8 U.S.C. § 1225(b), which subjects her to mandatory detention, rather than being given an individualized custody determination under 8 U.S.C. § 1226(a). She filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus seeking immediate release or, alternatively, a bond hearing. She also filed an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order, arguing that continued detention constitutes irreparable harm and expressing concern that she could be transferred to another facility without notice. The court denied the TRO application without prejudice, finding she had not shown the kind of imminent, irreparable harm required to bypass the district's standard expedited briefing schedule for immigration habeas petitions. The court noted that a general order already requires the government to give at least two days' notice before transferring her out of the district, and that she could seek emergency relief if such a transfer were announced. Respondents were ordered to file an answer to the habeas petition by August 11, 2026, after which the matter will be submitted for decision.

Kaitlyn Tracey, a 33-year-old Canadian citizen, was arrested on July 3, 2026, after allegedly slapping a teenage girl twice on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk during Fourth of July weekend. The confrontation occurred after Tracey objected to the girl's sweatpants displaying political slogans and allegedly verbally harassed her about her clothing. Police documented the assault on video. Tracey had entered the U.S. on April 14, 2024, on a tourist visa that expired September 6, 2024, remaining in the country illegally. She was charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, harassment, and obstruction. On August 4, 2026, a federal immigration judge ordered her deportation to Canada after she pleaded guilty to assault; she received a one-day jail sentence credited to time served. Her husband, Matthew Geroni, a U.S. citizen married to Tracey for over three years, disputed the characterization of events and alleged the arrest was politically motivated, claiming the viral video had been taken out of context. He launched fundraising efforts and social media campaigns to secure her release, raising $4,857 toward a $10,000 goal.

Country music singer Frank Ray publicly disclosed that his brother-in-law, Juan Nevarez, a Mexican national with a valid work visa, was arrested by ICE at El Paso airport on Thanksgiving Day. Nevarez was detained at an ICE facility in Otero County, New Mexico, pending a hearing to determine his immigration status. DHS cited a criminal record from a 2023 dispute, though most charges were dropped and only a misdemeanor trespassing conviction remained. Nevarez's wife and four U.S. citizen children await resolution of the case.

The ACLU of Ohio filed a federal lawsuit alleging that ICE agents repeatedly violated federal law by making warrantless arrests without determining flight risk, detained individuals for weeks or months, and mistreated detainees. The lawsuit details cases involving people with valid visas, work permits, and U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico, suggesting possible racial profiling. The plaintiffs seek class action status and want courts to stop warrantless arrests and require compensation for those improperly detained.