In custody
Overcrowding
Held in a space far over capacity: a holding cell, a bus, an airport facility, a tent.
Documented in 25 states. Every well-documented story coded this way, grouped by state. See what accompanies it →
Alabama
Arizona
Detainee suffered seizure after ICE pepper-sprayed dozens in overcrowded Mesa facilityDozens of detainees were pepper-sprayed in an overcrowded Arizona facility holding 332 people in space meant for about 157. One detainee had a seizure and another was hospitalized after an asthma episode.Mesa, AZ · May 13, 2026 · The Arizona Republic, Arizona Mirror, KJZZ
Migrants found confined in Phoenix house and minivan trunk, five indictedFive people were indicted after 11 undocumented immigrants, one confined to a trunk, were found in a minivan, and 22 more were discovered at a Phoenix stash house where migrants were locked in a bedroom and denied phone access.Cordes Lakes, AZ · Apr 28, 2026 · Arizona Daily Independent, The Arizona Republic, KTAR
Ramón B.: Phoenix tile installer, 60, says ICE held him 26 hours without waterRamón Barraza, 60, spent two decades installing tile floors in Phoenix before plainclothes agents boxed in his truck. He says he was held 26 hours with little food and pressured to sign a departure form.Phoenix, AZ · Jan 5, 2026 · WTOP, The Independent, Bastille Post
Khadija: Bisexual Ghanaian woman granted protection shackled and deported to Cameroon by ICEKhadija, a bisexual Ghanaian woman granted protection from deportation, was shackled and deported to Cameroon anyway in January 2026. She now lives in a crowded room there, afraid to go outside, with only temporary permission to stay.Eloy, AZ · Jan 2026 · Immigration Equality, Third Country Deportation Watch- Arizona-raised woman deported after ICE raid on Colt Grill restaurantA 23-year-old woman raised in Cottonwood, Arizona since infancy and a high school graduate was arrested when ICE raided the restaurant where she worked, then deported to Mexico, separated from her three citizen brothers.Cottonwood, AZ · Jul 15, 2025 · USA Today, The Arizona Republic, Copper Courier +2
California
Galina B.: Asylum seeker married to Trump voter held 16 days by ICEGalina Bobreneva, 40, a Russian asylum seeker married to a man who voted for Trump three times, was detained at Burbank airport and held 16 days before release on $35,000 bond.“I felt like a piece of meat, not like a human,” — Galina BobrenevaBurbank, CA · Sep 7, 2026 · The Daily Beast, Times Now News, Sahara Reporters +4
Russian man held 17 months at Otay Mesa reports eye infection outbreakA 39-year-old Russian man held 17 months at Otay Mesa filed grievances exposing severe sanitary conditions, including just two working urinals for over 100 detainees. He also advocated for other detainees before being released in 2026.San Diego, CA · Jun 17, 2026 · iNews Source, CourtListener
Sami H.: British journalist held two weeks by ICE over Gaza commentsSami Hamdi, a 35-year-old British journalist, was detained at San Francisco airport after his visa was revoked over his comments on Gaza and Israel. Judges ordered him freed after two weeks, citing free speech violations.San Francisco, CA · Jun 8, 2026 · i News, The Independent, GB News +3
Detainees hunger strike over care at Adelanto ICE facility after four deathsAt least 20 detainees at Adelanto's Desert View Annex went on hunger strike in mid-May 2026 over poor food, unsafe conditions and inadequate care, after four deaths at the facility since September 2025.Adelanto, CA · May 26, 2026 · LAist, Mission Local, American Community Media +6
Everlee W.: Green card holder detained by CBP at LAX, shackled and denied foodEverlee Amelia Wihongi, a 37-year-old lawful permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. since age six, was detained at LAX returning from a family trip and shackled on a floor for 14 hours during transfers across four states.“This place no longer feels like home to us, especially after seeing how my daughter’s been treated,” — Betty Wihongi, her motherLos Angeles, CA · May 21, 2026 · KSL, The Guardian, New Zealand Herald +12
Milena A.D.: DACA recipient arrested by ICE right after her green card approvalMilena Araya-Davis, a 27-year-old therapist brought to the U.S. from Peru at age 4, was arrested right after her green card approval and held a week at Otay Mesa, sleeping on the floor.San Diego, CA · May 11, 2026 · NBC San Diego, CBS 8, Radio Bilingüe +1
José Guadalupe R.S.: Diabetic father of two dies of COVID pneumonia at Adelanto ICE facilityJosé Guadalupe Ramos Solano, married 28 years and father of two, died of COVID pneumonia after a month in Adelanto's ICE custody; a judge later ordered sweeping facility reforms.Torrance, CA · Mar 25, 2026 · CNN, LAist, NBC News +15
Huabing X.: Chinese man dies after seizure in ICE custodyHuabing Xie, 47, a Chinese immigrant, died after a seizure at an Imperial Valley detention facility; advocates held a vigil citing concerns over medical neglect and unsanitary conditions.Calexico, CA · Feb 21, 2026 · Calexico Chronicle, KYMA, NBC Palm Springs +9
Luis Y.C.: Honduran father dies in ICE custody at Imperial County facilityLuis Beltran Yañez-Cruz, a Honduran immigrant, died while held at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility. His daughter Jocelyn called for justice at a February vigil citing medical neglect and unsanitary conditions.Calexico, CA · Feb 21, 2026 · Calexico Chronicle, KYMA, NBC Palm Springs +1
Thomas B.: German man shackled, detained by ICE at green card hearingThomas Bilger, a German who has worked in San Diego for a decade and is married to an American woman, was handcuffed and held in an overcrowded cell without proper food after his green card interview.San Diego, CA · Dec 10, 2025 · swr.de, morgenpost.de, Particle +2
Matheus S.: Army veteran's husband detained by ICE at San Diego green card interviewMatheus Silveira, 30, was detained at his own green card interview in San Diego just after it was approved; his wife, an Army veteran, now plans to move with him to Brazil.San Diego, CA · Nov 24, 2025 · Newsweek, G1
Sami H.: British journalist held 18 days by ICE after airport arrestBritish journalist Sami Hamdi was detained at San Francisco's airport on October 26, 2025, after his visa was revoked while on a U.S. speaking tour. He was held 18 days before returning to the UK.San Francisco, CA · Nov 13, 2025 · The Guardian, The Independent, Boston Globe
Asylum-seekers detained in San Diego courthouse basement for days without proper careAsylum-seekers who came to a San Diego courthouse for routine check-ins were held in crowded basement cells for up to four days with thin mats, no privacy and constant lights.San Diego, CA · Oct 9, 2025 · Times of San Diego, NBC San Diego, 10News +1- Diabetic construction worker arrested at Metro stop, held six days without carePedro Vasquez Perdomo, 54, a day laborer managing diabetes in Pasadena for decades, was handcuffed at a Metro stop by masked armed agents and held without medical care for his condition for six days.Los Angeles, CA · Jun 18, 2025 · CourtListener
Colorado
Florida
Christian G.: Cuban asylum seeker arrested riding to work, held two months by ICEChristian Omar González, 27, a Cuban man from Hialeah, has been held in Miramar for nearly two months after a traffic stop, with his mother saying he has no criminal record.“Help me get my child out of there, because I can’t take it anymore. My child is not a criminal, my child is not a delinquent boy,” — Christian's motherHialeah, FL · Oct 3, 2026 · CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines, Univision +2
Claudia R.C.: Venezuelan soccer captain held 17 days by ICEClaudia Rodríguez Caglianone, a former St. Thomas University soccer captain with a pending asylum case, was held at crowded ICE facilities for over two weeks, losing 15 pounds before release.Fort Lauderdale, FL · Sep 30, 2026 · CBS News, Latin Times, Miami Herald +4
Matías P.: Argentine soccer player held nearly 3 weeks by ICE after airport arrestMatías Alejandro Pourrain, 34, an Argentine soccer player and youth coach in South Florida since 2019, was detained at a Fort Lauderdale airport before a championship match. He was released on $20,000 bond after nearly three weeks.Miami, FL · Sep 13, 2026 · Buenos Aires Herald, The Daily Beast, United Press International +9
Claudia R.: Venezuelan TPS holder detained by ICE, lost 15 pounds in overcrowded cellClaudia Rodríguez, 29, a Venezuelan immigrant with a business master's degree, was detained trying to board a flight and held in an overcrowded cell before a congresswoman helped secure her release.Pompano Beach, FL · Aug 3, 2026 · Telemundo, NBC Miami, Miami Herald +3
Carlos Hugo B.: Asylum-seeking Colombian father with work permit held 16 days by ICECarlos Hugo Betancur, 52, was detained while pumping gas on his way to work despite having a pending asylum case and valid work permit. He spent 16 days detained, including in an overcrowded facility, before release with an ankle monitor.Doral, FL · Jul 24, 2026 · CBS News, CiberCuba, Cuba Headlines
Yajaira: Honduran mother returned to overcrowded Miramar ICE cell with IV in armYajaira, a 37-year-old Honduran mother of two with a valid work permit, was held five days in an overcrowded Miramar cell, suffered an anxiety attack, and is now detained in Spokane, Washington.Florida Keys, FL · Jul 20, 2026 · Reason, IFTTT, Family Stations Network +1
Immigrants held by ICE in Miami endure extreme heat, cockroaches, medical neglectFive immigrants held at Miami's downtown federal detention center described scorching, cockroach-infested cells, overflowing toilets and denied medical care, with some facing solitary confinement for speaking to reporters.Miami, FL · Jul 18, 2026 · Miami Herald, Tampa Free Press
Asylum seeker held three days at ICE office with barely any waterA 36-year-old man checking in for a routine asylum appointment he had kept for five years was held three days in an overcrowded room with about 70 others and little food or water.Miramar, FL · Jun 28, 2026 · El País, U.S. House of Representatives- Roger F.O.: 19-year-old asylum seeker held with 50 men on ICE facility floorRoger Moisés Flores Oviedo, 19, a construction worker with a pending asylum case, was detained leaving a gas station and held days in a crowded facility before being moved to Krome.Pompano Beach, FL · Jun 22, 2026 · El País
About 800 transferred from Everglades ICE facility, families struggle to locate themAbout 800 detainees were transferred out of the Everglades facility known as "Alligator Alcatraz," with families and lawyers unable to locate many of them after officials cited hurricane concerns.Florida Everglades, FL · Jun 18, 2026 · Associated Press, ABC News, News Tribune +5
Medical emergencies surge at Miramar ICE detention siteDetainees held at the Miramar ICE field office, now used for multi-day detention, report being denied medications and basic hygiene as medical emergency calls there have sharply increased.Miramar, FL · Jun 8, 2026 · Miami Herald, WLRN, America's Voice +1
Women detained in Baker County, Florida describe moldy food and insulation mattressesWomen held at Baker County Detention Center in Florida described moldy food, broken clothing, and insulation used as bedding. One said she was moved through more than 30 facilities in a month and often slept on floors.Baker County, FL · Mar 21, 2026 · The Nerd Stash, The Independent Florida Alligator
Roberto B.: Venezuelan journalist with torture protection shackled by ICE, bused to TapachulaRoberto Betancourt, a Venezuelan journalist whose wife and two children remain in Miami, was shuttled through 12 detention facilities over six months despite protection barring his return to Venezuela, then bused to Mexico in January 2026.“I had to go back to Tapachula and stay in the park, with nothing to eat, nowhere to sleep, the same story.” — Humberto GarcíaMiami, FL · Jan 28, 2026 · Forbidden Stories, Fact in Face, JLA Noticias
José G.: Palm Beach restaurant manager held 12 days by ICEJosé Gonzalez, a 53-year-old maitre d' who spent 20 years at a Palm Beach restaurant, was held in cramped, cold conditions at Alligator Alcatraz despite having a valid work permit.Palm Beach, FL · Dec 23, 2025 · CW34, CBS12, Palm Beach Post +10
Hundreds held in cages without sunlight at Alligator Alcatraz, ex-officer saysA former corrections officer who worked about a week at Alligator Alcatraz described hundreds held in cages with no sunlight, backed-up toilets, and mosquito infestations. She was later fired and says she was never paid.Florida, FL · Aug 6, 2025 · NBC News, Florida Immigrant, NBC Miami +1
Luis Manuel R.V.: Man who collapsed at Alligator Alcatraz still held with worsening healthLuis Manuel Rivas Velásquez collapsed at Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center and was hospitalized amid reports of inadequate medical response. He is now held in El Paso with reportedly worsening health.Ochopee, Florida · Aug 5, 2025 · Prism Reports, M. Centee Law, CBS News +1
Wilmer S.D.: Venezuelan journalist stopped by CBP, held 19 days in ICE tentWilmer Roberto Solano Dávila, 59, a Venezuelan journalist and Uber driver with a pending asylum case, was detained during a rideshare trip and held 19 days in a crowded outdoor tent before release on bond.Miami, FL · Jul 26, 2025 · Latin Times, Los Angeles Times, Press Freedom Tracker +2
Detainees at three Florida immigration centers denied insulin and inhalersA Human Rights Watch report found detainees at three Florida facilities denied insulin and inhalers, forced to sleep on concrete floors, and facing excessive force; substandard care was linked to two deaths.Miami, FL · Jul 21, 2025 · Human Rights Watch, ACLU Florida, Amnesty USA +2
Gaetano M.C.: Italian man says ICE denied him a lawyer at Alligator AlcatrazGaetano Cateno Mirabella Costa, 45, an Italian from Sicily, is held at a Florida detention camp with 32 others in cramped conditions, denied a lawyer, and has appeared shackled in court, his mother says.Osceola County, FL · Jul 21, 2025 · CNN, WSVN, WRAL +2
Detainees kept in cages in extreme heat at Everglades facility, lawmakers reportNearly 1,000 detainees are held at a newly built Everglades facility, with lawmakers reporting cages, extreme heat and poor sanitation, while officials called conditions clean and functional.Ochopee, FL · Jul 13, 2025 · Associated Press, WLRN, U.S. House of Representatives - Soto Office +4
Lee S.: Irish hairstylist with work permit deported by ICE, piercings removed without consentLee Stinton, a 45-year-old Irish hairstylist living in Key West since 2018, was detained after a traffic stop and held in overcrowded conditions before being deported to Northern Ireland.Key West, FL · Jul 12, 2025 · Keys Weekly, Newsweek, Belfast Telegraph +3
Krome detainees sleep on floors, buses, near toilets amid worst US overcrowdingDetainees at Krome North slept on floor mattresses, buses and near toilets as the facility held nearly three times its capacity, with over half having no criminal record as of June 2025.Miami, FL · March 2025 · Associated Press, Human Rights Watch, WPTV +3
Maksym C.: Ukrainian man dies after delayed emergency response to stroke at ICE facilityMaksym Chernyak, a 44-year-old Ukrainian man who fled Russia's invasion, suffered a stroke at Krome after days without treatment for worsening symptoms. Staff reportedly delayed calling 911; he died two days later.Miami-Dade County, FL · Feb 20, 2025 · Miami Herald, Washington Post, ACLU +9- Harpinder C.: British entrepreneur on valid visa hospitalized after ICE denied him insulinHarpinder Singh Chauhan, a 56-year-old British entrepreneur and father of two on a valid visa, had his insulin and inhaler confiscated in detention and collapsed in April with cardiac symptoms before being deported to the UK in June.Florida, FL · Feb 11, 2025 · Human Rights Watch, Economic Times, HuffPost
Women held by ICE at male-only Krome facility denied care, three hospitalizedWomen held at the male-only Krome facility were crammed into a cell with one exposed toilet and denied showers and medications, with three requiring hospitalization before receiving care.Miami, FL · February 2025 · Human Rights Watch- Andrea: Postpartum green card holder held by ICE, separated from her infantAndrea, 31, a Green Card holder from Argentina who had lived in the U.S. since age three, was detained after calling police during a domestic dispute just months after giving birth, separating her from her infant.Orlando, FL · Feb 1, 2025 · Human Rights Watch, Economic Times, HuffPost
Georgia
Godfrey W.: Army veteran and green card holder deported to Jamaica with appeal pendingGodfrey Wade, 65, an Army veteran and father of six, was deported to Jamaica while his appeal was pending and was later hospitalized for pneumonia. A Georgia judge has since voided the old conviction behind his case.Covington, GA · Oct 5, 2026 · Military.com, NYC Carib News, Military.com +8
Indi V.: Venezuelan asylum seeker slammed against wall by ICE, held 21 daysIndi Veitia, 47, a Venezuelan asylum-seeker living in Indianapolis with her wife, was slammed against a wall and held 21 days in Georgia, at times without running water, before release on bond.“In that center, everything is awful. The treatment is awful. The guards are one ruder than another. They treat everyone like criminals. I wouldn’t treat an animal like that. It’s just inhumane.” — Indi VeitiaAtlanta, GA · Aug 29, 2026 · CNN, Hindustan Times, ECIKS +1
Alma B.: Macon woman claiming U.S. citizenship held 243 days by ICEAlma Bowman, 59, of Macon, who says she is a U.S. citizen born in the Philippines to a Navy serviceman, was held 243 days at Stewart Detention Center before her November release.Macon, GA · Nov 27, 2025 · Georgia Public Broadcasting, Macon Telegraph, 11Alive
South Korean Hyundai workers shackled and held in cold cells in GeorgiaOver 300 South Korean workers detained in a September 2025 Georgia battery plant raid have filed federal claims, alleging they were shackled, denied interpreters, and held in cold, overcrowded cells. One worker said he lost nearly 10 pounds in custody.Ellabell, GA · Sep 4, 2025 · CNN, Latin Times, Pressure of Truth +2
Illinois
Video of Broadview detainee conditions lost, then claimed never recorded by ICEDetainees at Broadview Detention Center sued over conditions including insufficient food, extreme temperatures and abusive officers. ICE first said footage sought as evidence was lost, then claimed by January 2026 it was never recorded.Chicago, IL · Jan 27, 2026 · 404 Media, Lone Star Pie Federation, The New Republic +2
Father of four deported to Mexico, unaware his lawyer secured a hearingA 57-year-old Mexican father of four was held four days in overcrowded conditions at Broadview before signing a voluntary departure form, unaware his attorney had won an emergency hearing. He was deported the next day.Mount Prospect, IL · Oct 18, 2025 · Borderless Magazine, Texas Tribune
Rosalio P.S.: Father held with 150+ men at Broadview ICE facility, denied anxiety medicationRosalio Pelayo Salgado called his daughters from Broadview's ICE facility to describe being held with 150 other men, denied his anxiety medication, and facing a deportation scheduled for the next day.Broadview, IL · Sep 10, 2025 · Chicago Sun-Times, ABC7 Chicago, Shaw Local
Felipe Z.: Wheeling Amazon driver held in overcrowded Broadview ICE cell with overflowing toiletFelipe Agustin Zamacona, 47, a Mexican immigrant and Amazon driver who has lived in the U.S. for decades, testified he had to sleep by an overflowing toilet at the Broadview facility and that the water tasted like sewer.“I don’t want anyone else to live what I lived through.” — Felipe Agustin ZamaconaWheeling, IL · Aug 11, 2025 · The City, Aruba Today
Gladis C.P.: Immigrant advocate detained at Chicago ICE check-inGladis Yolanda Chavez Pineda, a Honduran asylum seeker and immigrant rights organizer, was detained during a routine ICE check-in despite having no deportation order and is now held in Kentucky.Chicago, IL · Jun 4, 2025 · CBS News, Block Club Chicago, ABC7 Chicago
Louisiana
Detainees report TB outbreak, overcrowding at Louisiana ICE facilityDetainees at a Louisiana ICE facility say 76 people are held in one crowded space amid tuberculosis, flu, and conjunctivitis outbreaks, with sick people placed in isolation instead of given medical care.Louisiana · Aug 8, 2026 · WWNO, ICE
Mamuka A.: Georgian detainee dies at Louisiana ICE facility cited for abuse, poor careMamuka Artmeladze, 43, died June 4 after being found unresponsive in his cell at a Louisiana ICE facility, where he'd been held since February without a court date. He was the 50th person to die in ICE custody this administration.Winnfield, LA · Jun 4, 2026 · Associated Press, ICE, NBC News +8
Men in Louisiana ICE detention center filmed begging for foodDetainees at a Louisiana ICE facility, including former detainee Victor Nery and a man named Chris from El Salvador, described hunger and poor conditions in cells holding up to 110 people each.Louisiana, LA · May 25, 2026 · The Guardian
Marie-Thérèse R.: 86-year-old widow with heart problems held 16 days by ICEMarie-Thérèse Ross, 86, a French widow, was detained at her Alabama home and held 16 days after her husband died amid an estate dispute with his stepsons. French diplomats intervened and secured her release and return to France.Louisiana, LA · Apr 25, 2026 · The Guardian, Latin Times, WSLS +13- Amilcar L.P.: Former DACA recipient with U.S. citizen daughters deported to HondurasAmilcar Lisser-Posadas, 29, a former DACA recipient and father of two U.S. citizen daughters, was held 12 days in overcrowded conditions, sick and untreated, then deported to Honduras despite a pending legal request.Alexandria, LA · Apr 23, 2025 · The Guardian
Maine
Marcos G.S.: Contractor with U.S. citizen wife held 7 months by ICEMarcos Gaspar-Da Silva, a 32-year-old Brazilian contractor married to a U.S. citizen, was held nearly seven months and lost over 26 pounds before a judge granted him permanent residency in August.Maine · Aug 16, 2026 · News Center Maine, Newsweek, Phoenix New Times +4
Makengo N.: Father detained by ICE while returning from wife's C-section deliveryMakengo Nzeza, an Angolan asylum seeker in Maine for eight years, was detained while returning to the hospital after his wife's C-section. His church congregation helped post his $2,000 bond, and he returned home days later.Saco, ME · Jan 23, 2026 · Maine Public, WGME, WMTW +1
Maryland
Detainees held in overcrowded Baltimore ICE cells posing health risksA whistleblower exposed overcrowding and unsanitary conditions at a Baltimore ICE facility, including use of a restraint chair. A judge capped the facility at 56 people and ordered medical screenings, daily cleaning, and hygiene access.Baltimore, Maryland · Mar 13, 2026 · WUSA 9, Project Saltbox, WBALtv +4
Detainees packed into overcrowded, unsanitary Baltimore ICE facility, whistleblower saysA former worker at a Baltimore ICE facility described detainees packed tightly together, filthy blankets, and inadequate sanitary supplies for women. The whistleblower says they were fired after reporting the conditions to supervisors.Baltimore, MD · Feb 6, 2026 · WUSA 9, CBS News, Coast TV +1
Dozens held up to 10 days in overcrowded Baltimore ICE officeDozens of detainees have been held in overcrowded conditions at ICE's Baltimore Field Office for up to 10 days without adequate beds or hygiene products, as lawmakers are denied access to inspect the facility.Baltimore, MD · Jan 28, 2026 · WBAL, CBS News
Massachusetts
Maria R.: DACA recipient held 10 days by ICE after warrantless Boston airport arrestMaria Rosales, 32, a dermatologist's assistant and community nonprofit founder, was detained at Logan Airport over a 2017 order she says she never knew about. A judge ordered her freed after 10 days and let her lawsuit against ICE proceed.Boston, MA · Sep 9, 2026 · Boston Globe, WCVB, Boston.com +2
Newton W.: Oak Bluffs chef held by ICE 10 months, suffered untreated heart attacksNewton Waite, a Jamaican-born Oak Bluffs chef and father of a U.S. citizen daughter, spent 10 months in ICE detention, suffering two untreated heart attacks before a judge ordered his release.Falmouth, MA · Jul 9, 2026 · Vineyard Gazette, News Americas Now, Documented
José P.: Landscaper with TPS held two days, slept on ICE cell floorJosé Pineda, a landscaper with over 30 years in the U.S. and valid work papers, was held nearly two days in a packed ICE cell with no bed, losing his job standing and his savings.East Boston, MA · Jun 15, 2026 · Boston.com, WBUR, WGBH +4
Maine residents arrested protesting ICE detention conditions in MassachusettsAbout 40 protesters, including Maine residents and faith leaders, gathered at a Massachusetts ICE office in April 2026 to oppose overcrowded, unsanitary detention conditions. Between 9 and 12 were arrested and later released.Burlington, MA · Apr 30, 2026 · Maine Public, WGME, WBUR +1
Hector V.: Illiterate worker with work permit held by ICE five months, then deportedHector V., who is illiterate and missed a 2007 hearing after being given wrong information, was detained at a car wash raid despite having work authorization. He spent five months in harsh detention before choosing to self-deport to El Salvador.Boston, MA · Apr 22, 2026 · BINJ News, WGBH
Rümeysa Ö.: Turkish doctoral student held by ICE over op-ed suffers 12 asthma attacksRümeysa Öztürk, a 30-year-old Turkish doctoral student at Tufts, was detained for 45 days and suffered asthma attacks after co-writing a pro-Palestinian op-ed; a judge later terminated her deportation case.“While I am grateful for the court’s decision, I still feel a great deal of grief for all the educational rights I have been arbitrarily denied as a scholar and a woman in my final year of doctoral studies.” — Rümeysa ÖztürkSomerville, MA · Feb 9, 2026 · CNN, KTVZ, Boston.com +5
Minnesota
Oudone L.: Laotian refugee missed cancer treatment during ICE detention, now in hospice careOudone Lothirath, 57, a Laotian refugee and member of Minneapolis's Lao Buddhist community, was detained and moved 1,300 miles to a Texas facility, missing chemotherapy for terminal cancer. He is now in hospice care after his cancer spread.“Shockingly enough, they let him out, but I think it’s because they just knew if he stayed, he would have died in their custody.” — Christina VilaySt. Paul, MN · May 7, 2026 · The Independent, Star Tribune, El Risala +4
Garrison G.: Liberian man arrested by ICE in battering ram raid on Minneapolis homeGarrison Gibson, 37, a Liberian man living legally in north Minneapolis under supervision, was arrested after agents broke into his home with a battering ram. A judge ordered his release four days later, ruling agents had no valid warrant.Minneapolis, MN · Jan 16, 2026 · Associated Press, Sahan Journal, MinnPost +8
Mauricio M.: Eden Prairie father of three detained by ICE, family confined to homeMauricio Martínez was detained during a January 9 traffic stop and sent to a Texas facility, where his wife says conditions include overcrowding and spoiled food, leaving the family struggling financially.Eden Prairie, MN · Jan 9, 2026 · EP Local News, Star Tribune
Francisco P.: Church maintenance worker deported to Mexico after ICE arrestFrancisco Paredes, 46, a maintenance worker at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Hopkins, Minnesota, was deported to Mexico after 25 years in the U.S., having slept on jail floors over the holidays.Hopkins, MN · Dec 4, 2025 · EWTN News, Maryknoll Magazine, The Catholic Telegraph +4
Wesley P.: Navy veteran and U.S. citizen shot with chemical agent by ICEWesley Powers, a Navy veteran and U.S. citizen, was shot with a chemical agent while protesting at Minnesota's Whipple Detention Center and held nine hours before release without charges.Minnesota · Sep 18, 2025 · Futurology, Piefed
Mississippi
Missouri
ICE detainees crowded in Missouri jail, pregnant woman lacks prenatal careICE detainees at a Missouri jail holding over 150 people were found sleeping on thin trays with little access to clean water, medical care, or legal help, including a pregnant woman denied prenatal care.Ste. Genevieve, MO · May 27, 2026 · KCUR, Ashrei Foundation, Yahoo News +1
Pregnant Illinois constituent hospitalized twice while detained at Missouri ICE facilityA pregnant Illinois constituent was hospitalized twice for pregnancy emergencies while held at a Missouri ICE facility, where detainees reported overcrowded cells, scarce drinking water and limited medical care.Ste. Genevieve, MO · May 26, 2026 · St. Louis Public Radio, The Telegraph, Belleville News-Democrat
Montana
New Jersey
300 detainees on hunger strike at Delaney Hall report beatings, solitaryAbout 300 people held at Delaney Hall in Newark went on hunger strike over spoiled food, filthy bathrooms, and poor medical care, including one detainee denied treatment for a head injury after slipping in the shower.Newark, NJ · Jun 30, 2026 · CBS News, NBC News, El País +10
Dozens arrested, senator pepper sprayed at Newark detention hunger strike protestHundreds protested outside Newark's Delaney Hall detention center starting May 25, 2026, supporting detainees' hunger strike over moldy food and overcrowding; Senator Andy Kim was pepper sprayed and at least 80 people were arrested.Newark, NJ · Jun 8, 2026 · Reuters, CBS News, The Independent +17
Damaris G.L.: Maryland mother with work permit held in crowded Louisiana ICE detention centerDamaris Gomez-Laurens, a Maryland electrician and mother of two, has been held since August at a Louisiana detention center after a routine check-in. She leads Bible studies there and is known among detainees as 'Pastor.'Elizabeth, NJ · Apr 16, 2026 · New Jersey Monitor, News from the States, NBC Washington +1
Ariadna Z.: NJ teen detained 53 days by ICE, missing prom and graduationAriadna Zumba, 18, in the U.S. since age nine, was held 53 days at Delaney Hall, missing prom and graduation. She later got her diploma and plans to study social sciences.Orange, NJ · Apr 9, 2026 · North Jersey, IFEG
Leqaa K.: Palestinian activist shackled to hospital bed during year in ICE custodyLeqaa Kordia, 33, a Palestinian woman living in Paterson, New Jersey since 2016, was freed after a year in detention that included a hospitalization during which she was shackled to her bed.Paterson, NJ · Mar 16, 2026 · NPR, Associated Press, The Guardian +1
Four detainees escape Newark ICE facility through poorly built wallsFour men broke through walls to escape a Newark immigration detention facility in June amid reports of overcrowding and poor conditions. Two were recaptured; two, including a Colombian national, remained at large with a $10,000 reward offered.Newark, NJ · Jun 15, 2025 · NBC New York, PBS, CBS News +2
New Mexico
New York
Detainees kept on floors without beds or lawyers at NYC ICE facilityDetainees including Sergio Alberto Barco Mercado described sleeping on floors without beds and going without hygiene products at a Manhattan ICE facility. A judge ordered conditions fixed after finding prior orders willfully violated.New York, NY · Sep 24, 2026 · CBS News, ABC News, Bloomberg Law News +1
Nuvia M.: Woman detained at ICE check-in, denied diabetes medicine in overcrowded Manhattan facilityNuvia Martinez, who has diabetes, was detained at a routine ICE check-in in Manhattan and denied her medication for days in an overcrowded facility with no beds, showers, or enough food.“I was just a body that they crammed into a room, almost as if to be forgotten.” — Nuvia Ventura MartinezNew York, NY · Jun 1, 2026 · The Independent, Washington Post, The City Reporter +3
Hugo A.O.: Shelter Island truck driver, father of newborn, held 23 days by ICEHugo Leonel Ardon Osorio, a Guatemalan truck driver on Shelter Island for over 20 years, was detained while commuting to work and held 23 days. He returned to his family and job in March.“As the primary breadwinner of the home, his wife and their newborn baby have been left not only in terror, not knowing where he has been taken, but also the financial insecurity to buy groceries and pay their rent.” — Anita Boyer, fundraiser organizerGreenport, NY · Mar 1, 2026 · Patch, Suffolk Times, East End Beacon +2
Jose C.: Ecuadorian church handyman held by ICE in overcrowded cellsJose Criollo, a handyman and Bible reading translator at a Syracuse Catholic church, described overcrowded detention cells with elderly detainees after ICE arrested him outside a construction site.Syracuse, NY · Feb 1, 2026 · WAER, Local Syracuse, syracuse.com
Over 100 detainees slept on floors at Central Islip ICE holding facilityMore than 100 migrants held at a Central Islip courthouse facility reported sleeping on floors without showers or medical care for up to 72 hours. A judge found ICE in contempt and ordered reforms.Central Islip, NY · Dec 23, 2025 · Long Island Press, News 12
Derlis C.T.: Queens 11th grader forced to sleep sitting up in ICE detentionDerlis Snaider Chusin Toaquiza, a 19-year-old Ecuadorian asylum-seeker and Queens high schooler, was detained at a court hearing and held in overcrowded facilities for weeks. He reunited with family after a $20,000 bond secured his release.Ridgewood, NY · Jul 18, 2025 · AM New York, Patch, FOX 5 New York +6Immigrants report sleeping on concrete at NYC ICE siteImmigrants held at a Lower Manhattan ICE site reported cramped rooms, little food, no bathing, and sleeping on concrete floors, with some stays lasting up to 10 days and limited medical care or family contact.New York, NY · Jul 9, 2025 · Gothamist, Newsday, Brooklyn Eagle +2
Paraguayan asylum seeker wins court-ordered release after ICE arrest outside immigration hearingA Paraguayan asylum seeker living with his sister in Flushing was arrested leaving his own immigration hearing and held in crowded conditions; a judge ruled his detention unlawful and ordered him freed.Manhattan, NY · Jul 2025 · Washington Post, CourtListener, MidPage +2- Roberto C.O.: Man detained for days in overcrowded NYC ICE facilityRoberto Chilavert Olmedo was held for days at 26 Federal Plaza during the summer 2025 ICE surge and described the conditions in written testimony as a nightmare.“I was just a body that they crammed into a room, almost as if to be forgotten,” — Nuvia MartinezManhattan, NY · Jun 2025 · Washington Post, ACLU
- 20-year-old Ecuadorian woman held nine days by ICE sleeping on floorA 20-year-old Ecuadorian woman was detained for nine days at 26 Federal Plaza without a bed, sleeping on the floor with dozens of others, before being released by a federal judge's order.“I was just a body that they crammed into a room, almost as if to be forgotten,” — Nuvia MartinezManhattan, NY · Jun 2025 · Washington Post, Leagle, Trump Whack +2
- Up to 100 detainees held on cement floors at NYC ICE facilityDetainees including Nuvia Ventura Martinez and Carlos Lopez Benitez described being held with up to 100 others in a Manhattan ICE facility, sleeping on cement floors for days with no beds or showers.Manhattan, NY · Jun 1, 2025 · The Independent, CourtListener, CourtListener +1
North Carolina
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Haitian father of 18-month-old vanishes, found detained at Moshannon ValleyA Haitian father with an 18-month-old child disappeared after an ATM trip and was later found held at an overcrowded detention center, after losing protected status when TPS ended.West York, PA · Oct 12, 2026 · Philadelphia Inquirer
Iliana L.: Argentine nanny seeking asylum held a month by ICE after airport arrestIliana Lick, 30, a nanny caring for three children in Philadelphia, was arrested at the airport heading to a World Cup game. After a month detained, she was freed on $10,000 bond with an ankle monitor.Philadelphia, PA · Aug 10, 2026 · The Mirror, World Press A, CBS News +4
Izzy A.: Egyptian green card applicant held 6 months by ICE, denied kidney careIzzy Aly, a Libertarian activist and business owner, was held six months at a Pennsylvania detention center, where he developed stage 3 kidney disease before being freed in June 2026.Clearfield County, PA · Jun 19, 2026 · WHYY, Philadelphia Inquirer, Truthout +3
Texas
Felipe F. and Daniel R.: Mexican deportees stranded in Guatemala after being flown far from homeFelipe Flores and Daniel Ramirez, a Texas resident raised in Brownsville, were deported together to Guatemala City, part of a policy sending over 2,200 Mexicans there this year. Both then made a long bus journey back toward the border.“How are we going to put the life preserver on if we have handcuffs on our hands and feet?” — another detaineeSan Antonio, TX · Sep 1, 2026 · San Antonio Express-News, syracuse.com- Daniel P.: Asylum seeker held at 11 for three months in overcrowded holding areasDaniel Palencia was detained for three months in overcrowded, cold holding cells at age 11 after crossing the border in 2016. He now lives in Southold and has worked in masonry for two years.“There are bad people out there. But you can’t arrest everybody for the way they look or if they speak Spanish. You can’t arrest hard-working people who are trying to support their families.” — Daniel PalenciaEl Paso, TX · Aug 8, 2026 · Shelter Island Reporter, Suffolk Times
Andrea P.F.: Asylum seeker denied ovarian cyst surgery by ICE, held nearly four monthsAndrea Pedro-Francisco, 23, a Guatemalan asylum seeker, was held nearly four months at a Texas tent facility while ICE denied surgery for an ovarian cyst doctors called medically necessary, before her June release.Texas · Jun 5, 2026 · MPR News, U.S. House of Representatives - Office of Craig, El Paso Matters +8
Erik R.: Man beaten and coerced to sign deportation papers at Fort Bliss campErik Ivan Rodriguez says officers beat him at the Fort Bliss tent camp while trying to force him to sign deportation papers. He and three others are suing over medical neglect, disease and violent treatment at the facility.El Paso, TX · May 30, 2026 · ACLU, ACLU of Texas, CourtListener +1
Children at Dilley ICE facility lack adequate medical care, Ms. Rachel saysChildren's entertainer Ms. Rachel described conditions at the Dilley, Texas facility after speaking with detained families, citing undrinkable water, worms in food, and inadequate medical care for children.Dilley, TX · Apr 21, 2026 · The Daily Beast, Yahoo News, Yahoo News
Stephanie K.V.: Army reservist's wife held 4 months by ICE after routine check-inStephanie Kenny-Velasquez, 25, a Venezuelan asylum seeker married to an Army Reserve pilot, was held for four months in crowded conditions despite always complying with check-ins. A judge found due-process violations and ordered her freed.Houston, TX · Apr 8, 2026 · ABC News, CNN, Miami Herald +6
Seamus C.: Husband of U.S. citizen held by ICE six months despite bond approvalSeamus Culleton, an Irish national married to a U.S. citizen and living in the U.S. nearly 20 years, was held six months and lost weight amid reported overcrowding. An appeals judge paused his deportation.El Paso, TX · Mar 1, 2026 · CBS News, Irish Times, Pekin Times +17
Infants and young children at Dilley detention center suffer seizures, respiratory distressChildren, including infants, at the Dilley detention center suffered respiratory distress, fevers and seizures, with emergency crews called at least 11 times since September and some rushed to San Antonio hospitals.Dilley, TX · Feb 27, 2026 · News 4 San Antonio, CRBC News, NBC News
At least seven children died in or after ICE custody, pediatrician saysChildren at the Dilley detention center have faced poor medical care and overcrowding, with a pediatrician reporting at least seven deaths, including a 5-year-old found with a cord around his neck.Dilley, TX · Feb 8, 2026 · Associated Press, SA Current, U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee +2
Children held at Dilley, Texas, suffer malnutrition and denied medical careAbout 1,800 children held at the Dilley detention center since April 2026 face contaminated food, little schooling, poor medical care, and trauma, some for over six months.Dilley, TX · Feb 6, 2026 · NBC News, Texas Tribune, Associated Press
Minnesota detainees in El Paso, Texas report medical neglect, overcrowdingMinnesota detainees sent to a Texas facility reported medical neglect, including an 18-year-old denied medication and a man who waited five days for care before testing positive for COVID.El Paso, TX · Jan 2026 · Star Tribune, U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar, MPR News- Jose N.: Salvadoran roofer detained by ICE after Lubbock traffic stopJose Navas, a Humble father of three and roofing business owner who has lived in the U.S. for 22 years, was detained by ICE during a traffic stop in Lubbock and moved to an overcrowded detention center.Lubbock, TX · Jul 27, 2025 · Click2Houston, dailycallernewsfoundation.org
Deported Colombian migrants report transport in chains and sleep deprivationDaniel Vasquez, 40, was held over a week across San Diego and Texas facilities and transported in chains. Colombian migrants reported cramped cells, sleep deprivation and denied bathroom breaks on deportation flights.Bogota, Colombia; San Diego, California; Laredo, Texas · Feb 10, 2025 · Reuters, Protothema, Colombia One +2
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Lewelyn D.: Green card holder held 3 months after Philippines tripLewelyn Dixon, a UW Medicine lab technician and green card holder for more than 50 years, was detained by CBP over a decades-old conviction she'd already paid restitution for, then released and became a U.S. citizen.“It was horrific; it was awful, it is crowded -- super crowded, they release maybe nine, bring back seven, release one, they bring three” — Lewelyn DixonTacoma, WA · Jul 20, 2026 · Seattle Times, Fox 13 Seattle, NBC News +9
Brazilian artist with pregnant wife held 63 days by ICEA Brazilian visual artist and father was detained near San Juan Island while picking up his daughter, held 63 days, and released days before his son's birth after charges were dismissed.San Juan Island, WA · Oct 10, 2025 · NBC Bay Area, NBC News, Seattle Times +4
Location not tied to one state
Samson B.: Eritrean refugee deported to Equatorial Guinea beaten, held without lawyer accessSamson Birhane, a refugee who came to the U.S. at 13, was deported to Equatorial Guinea and beaten alongside fellow deportee Ahmed Soliman after documenting abuse at a detention site. Both remain jailed without lawyer access.Malabo, Equatorial Guinea · Sep 11, 2026 · The Guardian, Business Insider Africa, Amnesty International +2
Adonys M.M.: Venezuelan rapper with TPS reports tuberculosis, overcrowding in Louisiana ICE detentionVenezuelan rapper AdonysX, who held legal status, says he's been held for months in Louisiana after a traffic stop, describing overcrowded cells, denied dental care and a tuberculosis outbreak. ICE denies the allegations.“Están tratando de matarnos prácticamente con lo que son las comidas. Aparte, el sitio no está en condiciones médicas, hay gente enfermándose; hay una gripe que no se va porque estamos en hacinamiento, 76 personas en una sola celda” — Adonys Francisco Mata Martínez (AdonysX)LA · Aug 13, 2026 · La Nación, Noticiero Caracas
Steven T.: Ugandan pastor pulled from car by ICE in Vermont, held 16 daysPastor Steven Tendo, a Ugandan asylum seeker and nursing assistant, was pulled from his car at gunpoint outside a Vermont care facility and held 16 days before a judge ordered his release in February.VT · Mar 20, 2026 · Newsweek, Associated Press, Community Violence Intervention Collaborative +4
Joselyn C.S.: Ecuadorean student detained 10 days by ICE without menstrual productsJoselyn Chipantiza-Sisalema, 20, an Ecuadorean public school student, was held about 10 days at a New York ICE facility, menstruating for five days without enough sanitary pads. She was later moved to Louisiana and released after roughly three weeks.NY · Aug 11, 2025 · The New York Times, The City, MacArthur Justice +1
Ward S.: Stateless Palestinian held 141 days by ICE, deportation attempted despite court orderWard Sakeik, 22, a stateless Palestinian woman who has lived in the U.S. since age 8, was detained for five months after returning from her honeymoon. She was released July 2 and now advocates for other detainees.St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands · Jul 2, 2025 · ABC News, 19th News, CBS News +1
Migrant children held over 40 days in crowded, windowless CBP roomsMigrant families with young children, some toddlers, were held for days or weeks in jail-like border facilities, with some children confined over 40 days in windowless, crowded rooms.Jun 17, 2025 · CNN, ProPublica, NBC News +2
Immigrants held by ICE in Miami prison report ignored medical complaints, cockroachesDetainees moved to Miami's Federal Detention Center describe cockroach infestations, overflowing toilets, extreme heat and ignored medical complaints, with the facility's population rising after fires near Krome.May 1, 2025 · The Guardian, Miami Herald
Rebecca B.: British backpacker shackled, held 19 days by ICERebecca Burke, a 28-year-old London graphic artist backpacking the US on homestays, was shackled and detained 19 days in a Tacoma facility after a visa mix-up at the Canadian border.WA · Feb 26, 2025 · The Guardian, BBC