Long-term residentRefugee
Refugees here twenty years or more, detained or deported
These stories describe refugees who arrived decades ago as children—from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Somalia, Cuba, and South Sudan—detained at routine ICE check-ins or home raids in states including California, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, and Washington. Some were held for months in jails or far-off facilities, deported, or died in custody, including a death in Indiana and a deportee beaten in Equatorial Guinea. First documented in February 2025, the pattern became recurring by July 2025 and has held a roughly steady share of reported stories since.”} {
First documented Feb 2025, recurring since Jul 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.
21 stories in 12 states. What accompanies this practice →
“For my kids to have to go through it is horrible for me to comprehend. Why? We always say if you change, you deserve a second chance.”
California
- Philip P.: Stateless refugee caring for autistic son, disabled mother re-detained by ICEA stateless Laotian refugee here over 40 years, a glazier caring for his autistic son and disabled mother, was suddenly redetained at a routine check-in. A judge ordered his release.Santa Clara County, CA · Sep 3, 2026 · CourtListener
- Lien S.: Laotian refugee with green card re-detained by ICE after 24 yearsA 53-year-old Laotian refugee who came to the U.S. as a child in 1979 was re-detained during a routine check-in after over 20 years on supervised release. A federal court ordered his immediate release, citing due process violations.Oakland, CA · May 19, 2026 · CourtListener
District of Columbia
Florida
- Lorenzo S.: Cuban man recovering from amputation deported by ICE to Mexico, left homelessLorenzo Sánchez, who fled Cuba in the 1980 Mariel boatlift and built decades of life in Florida, was deported to Mexico while recovering from a toe amputation and left homeless for months before reaching shelter in Guanajuato.“It was all a lie. A set-up. When I walked through the door, four agents were waiting for me. They handcuffed my hands, legs, and feet, and told me not to resist.” — VicenteMiami, FL · Sep 23, 2026 · Forbidden Stories, Fact in Face
Paul B.: Sanford grandfather detained by ICE after 70 years in U.S.Paul John Bojerski, 79, a Polish-born refugee who lived in the U.S. for over 70 years, was detained after a routine check-in over a 1968 deportation order. His family says his health has worsened in custody.Sanford, FL · Jul 2025 · Orlando Sentinel, Press Democrat, The Oakland Press +1
Indiana
Iowa
Nyamuoch D.: Refugee green card holder held six months by ICE in Iowa jailNyamuoch Thomas Duoth, a South Sudanese refugee who has lived in the U.S. since 1994, was ordered released after more than six months in an Iowa jail following her ICE detention in March 2025.Pottawattamie County, IA · Jul 16, 2026 · KCRG, Iowa News, Standing Record +1- Lamphone P.: Laotian refugee in U.S. since 1981 detained by ICEA Laotian refugee who came to the U.S. in 1981 was detained in July 2025 after 25 years on supervised release. A judge ordered his immediate release, finding the government failed to show changed circumstances.Iowa · Jul 29, 2025 · CourtListener
Maryland
Massachusetts
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
Ricky C.: Minnesota engineer and Laotian refugee detained by ICE, faced deportation to LaosRicky Chandee, a 52-year-old Minneapolis engineer and Laotian refugee, was detained at home and faced deportation over a decades-old conviction. Minnesota's pardon board granted him clemency one day before his scheduled removal.Minnesota · May 4, 2026 · MPR News, Sahan Journal, CBS News +2
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Washington
Alan P.: Laotian refugee who arrived as a toddler faces deportation after ICE detentionAlan Phetsadakone, brought to the U.S. as a toddler, was detained during a routine check-in in Tukwila, Washington in July 2025 and released in September. He now faces renewed deportation as flights to Laos resume.Tukwila, WA · Sep 10, 2025 · PBS, Seattle Times, EXA +1
Sergey K.: Ukrainian green card holder held two months after ICE Facebook Marketplace stingSergey Kostenyuk, a Spokane shed-builder who came from Ukraine as a child refugee, was detained for two months after agents posed as buyers on Facebook Marketplace; a judge ordered his release, finding he did not meet deportation criteria.Spokane, WA · Feb 15, 2025 · KUOW, La Nación, Newsweek +2
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
Dy N.: Atlanta father deported to Vietnam after 8 months, never held newborn sonDy Nguyen, a Vietnamese refugee who lived in the U.S. for 27 years, was deported after nearly 8 months detained, during which his newborn son was born and he never got to hold him.Jun 8, 2026 · Tea Buoy, Habeas Dockets
Chanh P.: Laotian refugee brought to U.S. as baby detained at ICE check-inChanh Phansisay, a Laotian refugee who arrived as a baby, was detained at a routine check-in over a decades-old deportation order, along with his uncle Ky Sengdara.WA · May 29, 2026 · KUOW, LinkedIn- Cambodian genocide refugee here 40 years deported to EswatiniP.R., 42, came to the U.S. as a Cambodian refugee at age three and lived there 40 years. He was held nine extra months before being deported to Eswatini on October 6, 2025.Oct 6, 2025 · Africanews, Axios, CourtListener