Elinor H.: 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📦
Jean-Pierre O.: 18-year-old USM student detained by ICE after minor accident in WestbrookJean-Pierre Obiang, 18, a University of Southern Maine student with no criminal record, was detained after a minor car accident in Westbrook. His family, asylum-seekers from Gabon, have lived in Maine three years.Jan 21, 2026·Westbrook, ME·Gabon·Press Herald+2📦,WGME📦,WMTW📦
Hassane B.: Asylum seeker arrested by ICE, wife and 1-month-old left in freezing carHassane Barry, 38, an asylum seeker from Guinea with no criminal history, was arrested in Portland after agents shattered his car window, leaving his wife and 1-month-old baby inside in freezing cold.Jan 21, 2026·Portland, ME·Guinea·NBC News📦,Press Herald📦,Boston.com📦,FOX 11 Los Angeles📦,NBC Boston📦
John D. and Mike D.: Lao brothers deported after months in ICE custodyJohn Detsavanh, 52, and his brother Mike Detsavanh, 50, were barbers in Providence held for months at the Wyatt Detention Facility before being deported, leaving Rhode Island's Lao community reeling.Jan 20, 2026·Central Falls, RI·Laos·News from the States📦,Rhode Island Current,The Public's Radio,rimonthly.com
Juan Carlos A.: Dual citizen detained by ICE while landscaping in East Long BeachJuan Carlos Aguilar Sr. told ICE agents in Spanish he was a dual U.S. citizen born locally while landscaping in East Long Beach, but was detained anyway. His daughter started a fund for legal help.Jan 20, 2026·Long Beach, CA·Press Telegram📦,Patch📦,Long Beach Post📦,The LA Local📦,Sierra Gorda Tribune📦
Pablo M.B.: Man in U.S. 18 years held by ICE without bond hearingA man who has lived in the U.S. for eighteen years was detained in January and held in Aurora, Colorado. A judge ordered a bond hearing within seven days, ruling the government must justify his continued detention.Jan 20, 2026·Aurora, CO·CourtListener📦
Gardeners held by Border Patrol in Long Beach, one says he's U.S.-bornTwo gardeners were detained by Border Patrol agents in Long Beach's University Park Estates; one said he was a dual U.S. citizen born locally. A third gardener who showed documents was not arrested.Jan 20, 2026·Long Beach, CA·Long Beach Post📦,Long Beach Local News📦,Press Telegram📦,Patch📦,LAist📦
Off-duty police officer stopped by ICE agents with guns drawn in MinnesotaAn off-duty police officer in Minnesota had guns drawn on her by federal immigration agents, who also stopped her from recording, during a sweep called Operation Metro Surge.Jan 20, 2026·Brooklyn Park, MN·USA Today📦,Scripps News📦
Daniel G.: Landscaper detained by ICE in East Long Beach, family loses providerDaniel Granados, a landscaper, was detained while doing lawn work near Kettering Elementary School in East Long Beach, leaving his family without its main income provider.Jan 20, 2026·Long Beach, CA·Press Telegram📦,Patch📦,Long Beach Post📦,The LA Local📦,Sierra Gorda Tribune📦
Victor A.S.: Disabled Ecuadorian man ordered deported despite governor's plea for releaseVictor Acurio Suárez, a 52-year-old Ecuadorian man with autism and aphasia cared for by his brother, was ordered deported despite Delaware's governor calling it cruel.Jan 20, 2026·Seaford, DE·Ecuador·Philadelphia Inquirer+1📦,Union-Bulletin,MSN📦,WBOC📦,Modesto Bee,Spotlight Delaware📦,Spokesman-Review📦,Bay to Bay News,NBC Philadelphia
ChongLy T.: U.S. citizen handcuffed at gunpoint in ICE raid on his homeChongLy Scott Thao, a U.S. citizen, was handcuffed at gunpoint in front of his 5-year-old grandson during an unwarranted home raid, then released after fingerprinting confirmed his citizenship.Jan 20, 2026·Saint Paul, MN·United States·PBS📦,NBC News,Washington Post,Fox 9📦,Fox 5 Atlanta📦,Twin Cities📦,CourtListener,Human Rights Watch📦,AOL,GoFundMe📦
Jelili Q.: Nigerian imam with 17 years of check-ins detained by ICE in ChicagoJelili Qudus, a Nigerian imam who leads weekly prayers and feeds people in need, was re-detained after 17 years of check-ins, then freed by a judge who found his rights violated.Jan 20, 2026·Chicago, IL·Nigeria·Newsweek📦,CourtListener,Habeas Dockets+3
Man arrested by masked ICE agent inside New Haven courthouseA man fleeing a car crash was arrested by a masked federal agent inside a New Haven courthouse, bypassing required notice to the court, which called the breach unintentional.Jan 20, 2026·New Haven, CT·New Haven Register📦,CT Mirror📦,CT Public📦,New Haven Independent
Nearly 200 detained in five-day ICE raids in MaineNearly 200 people were detained in a five-day Maine sweep called Operation Catch of the Day, with about 80% held only for immigration violations and many later released.Jan 20, 2026·ME·Bangor Daily News📦,WGME📦
