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Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Children left alone

Children left alone when a parent was taken

These documented stories describe ICE detaining or deporting parents during traffic stops, home visits, daycare drop-offs, and workplace arrests in cities including Conroe, Fresno, Memphis, and El Paso, leaving children alone, with siblings, or placed in foster care. First documented January 2025 and recurring since March 2025, with January 2025 the peak month, the pattern's share of reported cases has stayed roughly steady over time rather than growing or shrinking.”, invalid

First documented Jan 2025, recurring since Mar 2025.

Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.

79 stories in 27 states. What accompanies this practice →

“My daughter never leaves my side. It would be extremely detrimental to her, in every respect, if I were separated from her.”
— the mother. Mother explains why she cannot leave her deported daughter's side as the girl's health deteriorates without U.S. medical care. read the story →

Alabama

Arizona

Rosa B.: Teen cares for siblings with autism after ICE detains parentsRosa Barrera, 18, now cares for her three younger siblings, including a sister with autism, after ICE detained their parents at work. She is fundraising for legal help to reunite the family.Phoenix, AZ · Jan 28, 2026 · NBC News, Latin Times, WGBH +1

Arkansas

Ezequiel P.: 14-year-old left alone on I-5 after ICE arrests father near ChehalisEzequiel Pacas Sr., a 37-year-old contractor and father of four, was arrested at gunpoint during a traffic stop on I-5, leaving his 14-year-old son alone at the scene.Little Rock, AR · Jul 21, 2026 · KGW, Spot On Idaho, Amelica +1

California

Colorado

Gladys C.T.: Venezuelan mother with TPS deported to El Salvador, beaten in detentionGladys Yoleida Caricote Tovar, 28, a mother of three, was arrested in front of her children, had them placed in foster care, then deported despite a court order. She was later beaten in a Texas detention center.Colorado · Mar 15, 2025 · El País, USA Today, ABC News +1

Connecticut

Nancy M.: Mother handcuffed by ICE in front of her children, deported to MexicoNancy Martinez, 37, a factory worker in New Haven for 15 years, was handcuffed in front of her children, including her autistic son, then deported to Mexico. She now sues ICE while calling her kids daily from abroad.New Haven, CT · Oct 11, 2026 · CT Insider, NBC Connecticut, CT Mirror +6

Florida

Idaho

105 detained in Idaho racetrack raid that separated children from parentsA raid at an Idaho horse track detained 105 undocumented people, including children separated from parents. Some say they were coerced into deportation without contacting family or lawyers.Wilder, ID · May 6, 2026 · Boise State Public Radio, KTVB, KIVI TV +3

Illinois

Kansas

Kentucky

Ciceli M.: Honduran mother deported by ICE, four children left behindCiceli Martinez, a mother of four with no criminal record, was detained at a routine ICE check-in and deported to Honduras after 12 years in Louisville, leaving her children in her 20-year-old son's care.Louisville, KY · Mar 10, 2026 · WDRB Wave, WKYT, WBKO

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Minnesota

Missouri

Nixon P.P. and Glendy G.C.: Missouri couple shot dead in Guatemala after ICE arrest, three daughters orphanedGlendy Marisol González de la Cruz, 25, self-deported to Guatemala to reunite with her husband after he was arrested near their Missouri home, and both were later found shot dead, leaving three young daughters orphaned.Overland, MO · Jul 26, 2026 · St. Louis Public Radio, Soy 502, KCUR

Nebraska

New Jersey

New Mexico

Edgar C.M.: Father with U visa detained by ICE while driving daughter to doctorEdgar Chacon-Miranda, 45, a father with legal custody of his children, was detained by ICE while driving his daughter to a Santa Fe clinic for care. His daughter was left in the parking lot until a family member arrived.Santa Fe, NM · Sep 27, 2026 · KOB, KOAT, Tri City Record +5

New York

North Carolina

Allison B.C.: ICE raided wrong home, held nursing student six monthsAllison Bustillo Chinchilla, 20, a nursing student caring for her autistic sibling, was held six months in unsanitary conditions before agreeing to leave for Honduras.Charlotte, NC · Aug 26, 2025 · Charlotte Observer, Reuters Connect, Enlace Latino NC

Ohio

Ingrid M.: Guatemalan mother detained by ICE, toddler placed in foster careIngrid Mejia, a 25-year-old Guatemalan farmworker, was jailed for driving without a license and then held over four months in ICE detention, while her 3-year-old U.S. citizen son was placed in foster care.Greenville, OH · Feb 25, 2025 · theyoungcenter.org, Reuters, The Straits Times +1

Oregon

Jackie M.: Portland mother detained by CBP, separated from four U.S. citizen childrenJackie Merlos, a Honduran mother and longtime Portland business owner, was detained by CBP during a family picnic, separating her from her four U.S. citizen children. She remains held in Tacoma.Portland, OR · Jul 10, 2025 · Seattle Times, Rolling Stone, Bellingham Herald +3

Tennessee

Texas

Virginia

Jaykie F.A.: Harrisonburg mother tackled, detained by ICE while driving daughter to schoolJaykie Funez-Andrade, in the U.S. over 20 years, was tackled during a traffic stop while driving her daughter to school, then arrested despite showing valid ID and work permits.“This is something I never expected I would have to go through, and there wasn’t any way to prepare myself to go through it. I just want my mom to come home. She’s not a criminal.” — Kryziee CarrascoHarrisonburg, VA · Nov 8, 2025 · WHSV, Augusta Free Press, LinkedIn +2

Washington

Location not tied to one state