Sent to a third countryTPS · Venezuela
Venezuelan TPS holders detained or deported
Documented stories describe Venezuelan TPS holders detained by ICE during routine check-ins, traffic stops, and airport travel in cities including El Paso, Houston, Charlotte, Chicago, and Cedar Rapids. Some were held for months despite valid status, separated from children, or deported, including two men shackled on a flight to Liberia and a mother removed after developing an untreated infection in custody. This pattern was first documented in March 2025, has recurred every month since, and has held a roughly steady share of reported cases over time.”}}}}}} wait fix. I will output correct final. {
On the watchlist: too few well-documented stories yet to call a pattern. First documented 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.
34 stories in 16 states. What accompanies this practice →
“The government lied to me. I asked them to be with my dad, and they took us to a place, and we were separated.”
Arizona
Colorado
District of Columbia
Florida
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
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
Henry M.H.: Ex-Venezuelan army major held by ICE after DUI charge droppedHenry Morales Hernandez, 55, a former Venezuelan Army major and grandfather who fled Maduro's government, remains in ICE custody after a dismissed DUI charge and a denied bond request.Florida, FL · May 26, 2026 · Newsweek, CourtListener- Luis Jose V.: Man with a job, lease and clean record detained in MichiganA man with a clean police record, a job, and a rental lease filed a court petition on March 20, 2026, seeking a halt to his detention and immediate release.Orlando, FL · Mar 20, 2026 · CourtListener
Angel C.: Venezuelan IT specialist with TPS detained by Border Patrol at approved jobAngel Camacho, a Venezuelan asylum seeker married to a U.S. citizen with American-born children, was arrested at an approved IT job site in Dania Beach and held 30 days before release on bond.Dania Beach, FL · January 6, 2026 · NBC Miami, International Business Times, MSN +1
Darian M.M.: Venezuelan TPS holder, father of 15-month-old U.S. citizen, deported by ICEDarian Maldonado Medina, a Venezuelan with protected status and a 15-month-old U.S. citizen son, was detained at a routine check-in in Tampa and deported three weeks later despite a court order extending his protection.Tampa, FL · Sep 5, 2025 · Miami Herald, Reuters, Reuters
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
Georgia
Illinois
Iowa
Louisiana
Venezuelan men say they were shackled during deportation flight to LiberiaTwo Venezuelan men, 36 and 45, who had worked legally in the U.S. under protections, were shackled during a 15-hour deportation flight to Liberia, one missing his newborn son's birth.Alexandria, LA · Aug 19, 2026 · El Venezolano Newspaper, Centro Venezolanos- Carlos: Venezuelan TPS holder detained by ICE with inadequate medical careCarlos, a Venezuelan with approved Temporary Protected Status, was detained in February despite his valid status. He describes prison-like conditions, costly phone calls and inadequate medical care.Louisiana · Apr 17, 2025 · Freedom for Immigrants
Michigan
Missouri
New Mexico
North Carolina
Ohio
Oregon
Texas
Andrés and Luis: 11-year-old boy separated from father by ICE, placed in foster careAndrés, an 11-year-old Venezuelan boy who likes to draw and paint, was separated from his father Luis during a masked ICE arrest outside their El Paso home and sent to foster care as an 'unaccompanied' minor.“Since he was little he’s been with me,” — LuisEl Paso, TX · Oct 5, 2026 · Mother Jones
Luis M.P.: Venezuelan pastor seeking asylum detained by ICE at Houston airportPastor Luis Alfredo Morales Pérez, 50, who leads four Houston-area congregations, was detained at the airport while heading to visit his daughters with his wife. He is held in Livingston, Texas, as his team seeks bond.Houston, TX · Aug 12, 2026 · Telemundo, A Today, Telemundo Houston +7
Luis M.: Venezuelan pastor detained by ICE at Houston airport while traveling with wifeLuis Morales, a pastor leading four Houston-area Adventist churches, was detained at the airport while flying to see his daughters with his wife. He remains held in Livingston, Texas, as his asylum case continues.Houston, TX · Aug 6, 2026 · Click2Houston, Houston Chronicle, A Today
Jesus R.H.: Venezuelan father and 11-year-old son detained by ICE outside El Paso homeJesus Eduardo Reyes Hermes, in El Paso nearly four years, was arrested with his 11-year-old son on April 28. He was later freed on bond; his son has asked to be deported to reunite with his mother in Venezuela.El Paso, TX · Jul 1, 2026 · CourtListener, El Paso Matters- Jose M.P.: Venezuelan asylum seeker and father detained by ICE in Ennis, TexasA Venezuelan man living in Ennis, Texas with his wife and child was detained after an assault arrest, despite holding humanitarian parole. A court ordered him a substantive bond hearing within 14 days.Ennis, TX · May 22, 2026 · CourtListener
Rubeliz B.: Venezuelan ER doctor and 5-year-old U.S. citizen daughter held by CBPDr. Rubeliz Bolívar, a 33-year-old ER resident in McAllen, Texas, was detained with her 5-year-old daughter while traveling to her asylum interview, which she missed.McAllen, TX · Apr 11, 2026 · Associated Press, American College of Emergency Physicians, Valley Central +1- Ezequiel V.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained at Border Patrol checkpointDr. Ezequiel Veliz, a Venezuelan physician and medical resident in Texas, was detained at a checkpoint after his protected status was revoked. Married to a U.S. citizen, he was granted bond following medical community outcry and a lawmaker's intervention.Sarita, TX · Apr 2026 · LinkedIn, Archy Newsy, American Medical Writers Association +5
Adrian G.R.: Venezuelan TPS holder held by ICE two months, separated from 2-year-old sonAdrian Gil Rojas, a Venezuelan man with protected status, has been held for over two months, separated from his two-year-old son. He once testified in a murder trial and is now challenging his detention in court.Houston, TX · Apr 2, 2025 · CourtListener, National Law Review, Latin Times +1
Utah
Location not tied to one state
Ana D.: Breastfeeding mother of two deported after ICE agent posed as case managerAna Delgado, a Venezuelan mother of two in San Antonio, was lured outside and detained while holding her young son. She developed mastitis in detention after being denied a breast pump, then was deported, separating her from her kids.TX · May 8, 2026 · Univision, Register-Guard, MSN +3
Ezequiel V.C.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained by ICE at Texas checkpointEzequiel Vélez Cáceres, a 32-year-old Venezuelan physician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a Texas checkpoint after losing protected status, then ordered released by a judge in April 2026.“Una felicidad total que lo hayan podido sacar; es indescriptible. Su papá está feliz y su mamá casi que no podía hablar de la emoción, su hermana también. Saben el tipo de persona que es y que ha sido todo muy injusto” — a family friendApr 15, 2026 · Telemundo, Telemundo Houston, RGV Monthly
Ezequiel V.: Venezuelan doctor married to U.S. citizen detained by CBP at Texas checkpointDr. Ezequiel Veliz, a family-medicine resident physician married to a U.S. citizen, was detained at a Texas checkpoint after losing his work permit when TPS for Venezuelans ended. He was freed on $8,000 bond after ten days.TX · Apr 6, 2026 · Info News, Latin Times, Valley Central +2
Scarleth R.: 21-year-old Venezuelan with TPS deported to El Salvador against court orderScarleth Rodríguez, 21, was held nine months before being deported despite a court order halting removals, then flown back from El Salvador and beaten in a Texas detention center. Her mother had prepared a meal expecting her home.Mar 15, 2025 · El País, USA Today, ABC News +1