DACA recipient detained by ICE over social media posts
Oct 7, 2025·Location: Arlington, TX
Country of origin: Philippines

Yaa'kub Ira Vijandre, a 38-year-old DACA recipient and Filipino immigrant, was detained by ICE on October 7, 2025, after his DACA status was terminated citing social media posts. Vijandre, a freelance journalist and activist in the Dallas area, had spoken out against the Gaza war, ICE detention conditions, and human rights abuses. His attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition arguing his detention violates his First and Fifth Amendment rights, as his speech constitutes protected political expression rather than support for terrorism.
Sources
- A DACA recipient objected to ICE’s detention of a community member. He’s now facing deportation
CNN·Oct 28, 2025·archived copy
- Immigrant activist's detention highlights DACA recipients' growing deportation risks
NBC News·Aug 29, 2025·archived copy
- Feds revoke Dallas-area activist's DACA status, detain him over social media posts
sportsday.dallasnews.com·Oct 28, 2025·archived copy
- How social media posts led to the detention of a Texas DACA recipient
preview-prod.w.houstonchronicle.com·Jan 6, 2026·archived copy
- Statement by Yaakub Vijandre’s Legal Team: ICE detains DACA recipient and pro-Palestinian photojournalist Yaakub Vijandre for social media posts in critical free speech test case
mlfa.org·Oct 21, 2025·archived copy
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