SIJS recipients transferred far from family and lawyers
Documented cases describe young people with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status or similar protections detained after traffic stops, court hearings, or in public, then transferred to facilities in Louisiana, Texas, or other states far from family and attorneys in New York, Massachusetts, and elsewhere. Some were held for months, deported to Honduras or El Salvador, or deported without a removal order. First documented in November 2025, this pattern became recurring by October 2026, which was also its peak month, and now makes up a larger share of reported cases than earlier periods.
First documented Nov 2025, recurring since Oct 2026. A larger share of recent stories than earlier ones.
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.
8 stories in 6 states. What accompanies this practice →
Alabama
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New York
Mario M.C.: Salvadoran man deported without judge's order, still held by ICE after returnMario Mata Cruz, a Salvadoran man on a path toward a green card, was deported without a removal order, then returned but held far from his brother in New York.Long Island, NY · Oct 1, 2026 · NY1, Sumandoxmas
Dylan L.C.: Bronx high school student arrested by ICE at court, held 10 monthsDylan Lopez Contreras, a Bronx high school student, was released on an ankle monitor after nearly 10 months in ICE detention following his arrest at a mandatory immigration court hearing.New York, NY · May 20, 2026 · NBC Bay Area, ABC7 New York, Audacy +18
Carlos G.L.: 18-year-old high school graduate held nearly three months, ICE refused court-ordered releaseCarlos Guerra Leon, 18, a recent high school graduate who came from Guatemala at age 10, was held nearly three months in Louisiana despite protected status. A judge ruled his detention unlawful.New York, NY · Nov 1, 2025 · The Independent, CourtListener, Rakwa News +4