Signs of Corruption and System Failures From The Stories of The Victims of Immigration EnforcemenT
Welcome to the ICE Files:
Paulo Sosa Garcia and Ramona Cecilia Silva- #0250
Parents of three girls, ICE arrested them at a traffic stop and flew them to a detention camp in El Paso, Texas, by the next morning. The couple had lived in the U.S. since 1999, were raising three daughters, running a small cleaning business, and had just been told their residency case was finally moving forward. Instead, they were separated, placed in a large tent facility with reported unsafe conditions, and given almost no contact with their family. They lost fifteen pounds in detainment, but recently have been released.
#Released #InadequateConditions #Caregivers
"Our parents were working with immigration officers for their residency, to get their residency and they were in the process of doing that. By the way, they paid thousands of dollars for this stuff. And five days before they got detained, our dad sent us the case number that they got approved, so they get process of naturalization," Cecilia Sosa Silva …"I am like, that's not true, my parents are good people, pay taxes, are good civilians, are not criminals," Cecilia Sosa (2).
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal- #0251
A 41‑year‑old Afghan special forces veteran who fought alongside U.S. troops and was legally evacuated after the fall of Kabul, died less than a day after ICE agents arrested him in front of his children in Texas. He later reported feeling unwell in custody, was taken to a Dallas hospital, and died the next day after severe medical complications. His death comes amid a sharp rise in fatalities inside ICE detention, with this year on track to be the deadliest in more than two decades. Advocates are calling for an independent investigation, arguing that Paktyawal had a pending asylum case and six children and was targeted. DHS claims he was a criminal illegal who was guilty of SNAP fraud and theft.
#Deaths #Disabled/Sick #Caregivers
Seydou Ouattara- #0252
A West African immigrant who lived in the U.S. for nearly 30 years and consistently complied with immigration check‑ins, was suddenly detained during an October appointment at Federal Plaza and never returned home. After being held in multiple immigration facilities for three months, he was deported to West Africa the day before Christmas with no warning to his family. His daughters, both US citizens, said he had built a stable life in New York, had an approved petition to adjust his status, and was given no chance to prepare or say goodbye. They are now fighting to bring him back.
#CheckInDetainment #Deported
Abel Orozco Ortega- #0253
A 47‑year‑old father who has lived in the U.S. for nearly three decades, was pulled over by ICE without a warrant, mistakenly believing he was their intended target. After detaining him, agents realized the warrant was actually for his son, and then issued a new warrant on the spot using blank forms they carried, a practice a federal judge has now ruled “invalid” and “meritless.” Ortega, who has no criminal history and was his family’s main provider, remains in ICE custody in Kentucky. Orozco owns a tree‑cutting business and now faces expedited deportation while his wife battles breast cancer and his family struggles to keep their home. His case has become a key example of what advocates call aggressive “collateral arrests” under this enforcement surge, and he is seeking protection from removal as his case moves toward a ruling expected this summer.
#DefiedDueProcess #Caregivers
The Laya’s- #0254
A Venezuelan asylum seeking family– a mother, father and two children– were detained by ICE for two months during what was supposed to be a routine check-in. They were held at the Dilley, where they reported poor conditions, pressure to sign voluntary departure forms, and inadequate medical care for her son with kidney issues. The family returned to New Mexico only to discover the family had been evicted and all their belongings, savings, and even their dog were gone. With no home left, she and her husband now sleep in their car while trying to work and save enough to start over, determined to rebuild for their children despite losing everything they had worked for.
#Children #CheckInDetainment #InadequateConditions #Disabled/Sick
Allan Michael Dabrio Morrero- #0255
A Brooklyn man originally from the Cayman Islands was released after spending more than two months in ICE detention which was triggered by what should have been a routine green card interview. He had no criminal record, a history of attending all immigration appointments, and an approved marriage‑based petition filed by his husband. He was detained due to a missed hearing he says he never knew about because he was in rehab at the time. A judge has now granted him a $6,000 bond, citing strong community support from his husband and their church, even as DHS opposed his release.
#CheckInDetainment #InadequateConditions
Tanya Warner & Alya Lucas (7-Year-Old)- #0256
A seven‑year‑old autistic girl, Ayla Lucas, and her mother from Canada, Tania Warner, were detained by ICE at a Texas checkpoint while driving home from a baby shower with Tania’s American husband. Although the family has lived legally in the U.S. for five years and is in the process of obtaining green cards, officers claimed there was an issue with Tania’s employment authorization paperwork and took both mother and child into custody after fingerprinting them. They were transferred to the Rio Grande Valley Central Processing Center, where they have been sleeping on mats with “space blankets” in loud, overcrowded conditions which they claim is especially traumatic for Ayla. Their fingerprints were sent to Washington, D.C., but they were not cleared for release, leaving Tania’s husband desperately seeking legal help and support as he tries to get them out.
#Children #Disabled/Sick #InadequateConditions
Rafael Rubio- #0257
A Venezuelan data analyst for the New York City Council, was detained by ICE in January during what he thought was a routine check‑in and an immigration judge has ordered him deported over a missing signature on his asylum application. Judge Charles Conroy ruled that the unsigned form meant Rubio had “abandoned” his case and refused to let him correct the error, even though his attorney said it could be fixed within an hour. Rubio, who has temporary protected status and passed all background checks to work for the city, has remained in ICE custody for more than two months and was denied bond. DHS has portrayed him as a “criminal illegal alien,” citing an assault arrest that was later dismissed, but city officials say the deportation order is “outrageous,” “cruel,” and based on a technicality. Rubio’s legal team has about a month to appeal, and he will stay in detention while they fight to reopen his case and stop his removal. #CheckInDetainment
Heidy Sánchez- #0258
A Cuban woman living in Florida under an immigration parole order, was detained during an ICE appointment. Agents forcibly took her 17‑month‑old U.S. citizen daughter from her arms, handcuffed her, and transferred her through multiple detention sites before deporting her to Cuba just two days later. Sánchez had been living legally in the U.S. for over 5 years, was married to an American citizen, and was in the process of pursuing family‑based immigration. Her sudden deportation left her separated from her baby and husband. Now back in Havana, she struggles with the emotional trauma of the separation, unreliable communication with her daughter, and fears about her child’s health and future. She is trying to reunite with her family through a scheduled appointment at the U.S. embassy.
#Caregivers #DefiedDueProcess #LawyerDenial #Deported
“Marie” (As identified in an ACLU letter)- #0259
A graduate student claims she suffered severe mistreatment while detained by ICE for 20 weeks during a high‑risk pregnancy. After entering the US on a valid tourist visa, she was detained while traveling to Canada because her original identity documents had been stolen and she was using temporary electronic replacements. She was transferred to a distant ICE facility, where she reports medical neglect, being denied prenatal vitamins, receiving a vaccine without consent or translation, and being placed in solitary confinement when officials didn’t believe she was pregnant. She says she repeatedly reported severe cramps but was ignored. Advocates say the experience traumatized her, contributed to serious pregnancy complications, and left her with postpartum depression. Marie later developed eclampsia and was hospitalized after giving birth. ICE has denied allegations of poor conditions, but immigrant‑rights groups argue her case violates federal policy stating that pregnant people generally should not be detained, and they warn that prolonged detention is causing widespread harm.
#Pregnant&Postpartum #Disabled/Sick #InadequateConditions #SolitaryConfinement/Restraints
Juan Chavez Velasco - #0260
A DACA recipient and father of three children was detained by ICE in his own neighborhood while driving milk to his premature newborn in the NICU. Despite having no criminal history, deep roots in the U.S., and an active DACA renewal pending, agents took him into custody, saying none of that mattered because of an old removal order from when he was a child. He was sent to a detention center, separated from his citizen wife and children, including the baby he had never been able to hold. Now facing possible deportation to Colombia, he remains detained while his family fights for his release and fears the growing toll of his absence.
#Caregivers
Sergio Bolanos Romero- #0261
A Chicago father was wrongfully arrested by ICE in January 2025 while driving to work. Plainclothes officers stopped him near his home, confiscated his ID, blocked him from leaving, demanded proof of immigration status, and handcuffed him when he couldn’t produce documents, even though they were actually looking for someone else who lived in his building and drove a different car. Sergio was never shown a warrant, yet ICE transported him to multiple locations, including a jail in Wisconsin, before releasing him on bond two days later. His case was included in a lawsuit in Illinois arguing that ICE has been conducting warrantless, unconstitutional arrests. He lives with ongoing fear that ICE could unlawfully detain him again. #DefiedDueProcess #Released
Julio Noriega- #0262
Julio Noriega- a 54‑year‑old Chicago resident and U.S. citizen, was stopped by ICE in January while handing out resumes in search of work. Without asking questions, officers handcuffed him and took him into a van, transporting him to an ICE processing center. He was held for over 10 hours before agents finally checked his wallet and realized he was a citizen, at which point they released him on the street without paperwork documenting the arrest.
#USCitizen #Released
Rui Murras- #0263
A 32‑year‑old Portuguese man with a green card who has lived in Massachusetts since he was 2 years old, was detained by ICE when returning from an overseas vacation because of an old criminal record. He spent several weeks in custody, before being released on bail and reunited with his family. Although he is a legal permanent resident, he now faces possible deportation to Portugal and must appear before an immigration judge. An old drug charge from 2017 seems to be the main reason for detainment, and his family and local immigrant advocates say he is not a danger and should not be deported.
#GreenCardHolder
San Juanita Guerra- #0264
A 74‑year‑old woman and U.S. permanent resident for more than four decades, was detained by immigration authorities after she tried to reenter the country without her green card, which her family says happened because she suffers from memory loss after a stroke. When her family brought the ID to the border to resolve the issue, agents discovered a minor offense from 1994 and placed her in ICE custody. Guerra has serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart problems, and cognitive impairments, and her lawyer warns that detention poses a danger to her health. (At the time of writing this, she has been detained over two weeks– a 74 year old woman with memory loss, is the worst of the worst? Is it just to jail a 74 year old woman with a green card for forgetting her ID?)
#Senior #Disabled/Sick #GreenCardHolder
Royer Perez-Jimenez- #0265
A 19‑year‑old from Mexico, became the youngest person to die in ICE detention during Trump’s second term after he was found unresponsive in his cell at the Glades County Detention Center. He had been arrested in January for a minor traffic violation and providing false information and was later transferred to ICE custody, where officials said he died of a presumed suicide, though the cause is still under investigation. Perez‑Jimenez had previously overstayed a visa and reentered the U.S. after a voluntary return to Mexico. His death occurred at a facility long criticized for abuse, medical neglect, and unsafe conditions which ICE had once stopped using but the Trump administration reopened in 2025. He was screened as having “no” mental‑health concerns upon intake. His arrest report shows misdemeanors, but ICE claims he is a criminal with felony charges.
#Death #InadequateConditions #LiesByICE
"Immigration detention system deprives people of freedom, isolates people away from loved ones, and subjects people to abysmal conditions," said Carly Pérez Fernández, communications director at Detention Watch Network (1).
“Perez-Jimenez was stopped on January 22 by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly “crossing traffic lanes without using a crosswalk” while riding a scooter, according to the Miami New Times. He allegedly refused to stop and gave the officers “multiple fake names,” which are both misdemeanors, according to an arrest report viewed by the New Times, but ICE’s statement alleges that Perez-Jimenez had been charged with “felony fraud for impersonation.”
(1) https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5754519/mexican-teen-migrant-dies-florida-jail-ice (2) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/19/teenager-ice-detention-florida-dies (3) https://truthout.org/articles/19-year-old-royer-perez-jimenez-dies-in-ice-jail-known-for-abuse/ (4) https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article315116424.html
Jeanette Vizguerra- #0266
An immigrant‑rights activist and mother of four was released from ICE detention after nine months when a federal judge ruled that the government had failed to justify keeping her locked up. She first gained attention after taking sanctuary in a Denver church during the first Trump administration, she was re‑arrested by ICE at her workplace in March and held in a for‑profit detention center criticized for poor conditions. The judge found her detention had become unconstitutionally prolonged and raised concerns that ICE may have targeted her in retaliation for her activism.
#InadequateConditions #DefiedDueProcess
Joel Angel-Becerril- #0267
A 27‑year‑old Nebraska DACA who has lived in the U.S. since age five and has no criminal convictions, and was placed in deportation proceedings after ICE encountered him months after a dismissed assault charge. ICE attempted to deny bond, but the judge found that immigrants long present in the U.S. are legally entitled to bond hearings, rejecting ICE’s mandatory‑detention policy. His case is one of many habeas challenges filed in Nebraska.
JeanCarlos Fiallos Manzanares- #0268
A Honduran DACA recipient with a valid work permit who has lived in the U.S. since childhood, has spent ten months in ICE detention after being arrested in a targeted operation outside his mother’s home and remains in detention as of March 2026. Despite his active DACA status, he was transferred across states, to a detention center in New Mexico and has sued ICE, arguing his detention is unlawful. A judge has allowed his case to proceed and barred ICE from moving him while litigation continues.
#DefiedDueProcess
(1) https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/11/dreamers-daca-trump-deportation-detention-betrayal-big-feature/ (2) https://www.wlrn.org/light/immigration/2026-03-19/miami-daca-recipient-stuck-in-ice-custody-in-new-mexico (3) https://www.wlrn.org/immigration/2026-03-19/miami-daca-recipient-stuck-in-ice-custody-in-new-mexico
Javier Diaz Santana- #0269
A deaf 32‑year‑old deaf DACA recipient, was swept up in an ICE raid at the Temple City car wash where he works. Unable to hear the commotion and with no way to communicate once agents took his wallet and phone, he was handcuffed, questioned, and taken into custody without disability accommodations. His family later discovered he’d been transferred to El Paso, even though he has no criminal record and an active DACA permit. After weeks in detention, he was released with an ankle monitor, but the experience left him traumatized, fearful of going out, and struggling to return to normal life.
#Disabled/Sick #InadequateConditions
“‘They tried to talk to me. They tried to see if I could talk. I couldn’t talk. I pulled out my phone to try to communicate, but they took it away,’ Diaz Santana described the interaction, adding the agents confiscated his Real ID and wallet before placing him in handcuffs.
‘I would ask them to take off my handcuffs, so I could sign. They said no, so I was struck,’ he recalled.” (2)
Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez- #0270
A 42‑year‑old DACA recipient who has lived in California since she was a teenager, was detained and deported to Mexico the day after she attended a green card interview. She and her daughter believed she was taking a routine step toward permanent residency, but immigration officials arrested her after the appointment and removed her from the country overnight. Her attorneys say she had valid DACA status, was never in removal proceedings, and was unlawfully deported. Now stranded in Mexico, she is suing the Trump administration to return home, while members of Congress demand answers about why DACA recipients like her are being arrested and deported despite their protections.
#DefiedDueProcess #LawyerDenial #Deported #CheckInDetainment
Paulo Cesar Gamez Lira- #0271
A DACA recipient living near El Paso, was arrested by ICE outside his home in front of his children. He claims agents used excessive force, dislocating his arm as they took him into custody. He has been held at the Otero County Processing Center separated from his children, including a sick newborn. His only prior incident was a minor marijuana charge from when he was 17, which was reduced and has never prevented him from repeatedly renewing DACA. The ACLU has filed a federal habeas petition arguing his detention is unlawful and demanding his release, while ICE claims DACA does not protect him from arrest.
#ExcessiveForce #Caregivers
Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago- #0272
A 28‑year‑old DACA recipient and immigrant‑rights organizer, was detained at the El Paso airport after Border Patrol agents questioned her about her ID and work permit, then took her to a back room and arrested her. She has been held in ICE detention since August even though an immigration judge has already ruled she cannot be deported because her DACA status and work permit gives her lawful presence. During her detainment, she reports horrible conditions and sleep deprivation. ICE has appealed the ruling and is refusing to release her, prompting protests in multiple cities and a federal court fight. Her lawyers argue the arrest was unlawful, her detention unconstitutional, and that she is being targeted despite years of clean renewals and deep community ties.
#InadequateConditions #DefiedDueProcess
(1) https://nipnlg.org/news/press-releases/xochitl-santiago-challenges-unlawful-detention-federal-court (2) https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/15/texas-immigration-activist-daca-detention-el-paso-xochitl-santiago/ (3) https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/it-should-be-very-concerning-to-everyone-says-wife-of-detained-daca-recipient
Evenezer Cortez Martinez- #0273
A 40‑year‑old DACA recipient who has lived in the U.S. since age 4, was deported to Mexico despite having valid DACA status and having advanced parole to travel legally to visit his dying grandfather. When he returned through the Dallas-Fort Worth airport, CBP agents blocked his re‑entry, claimed he had a deportation order he’d never been notified of, denied him access to a lawyer, and removed him from the country the same day. After two traumatic weeks stranded in Mexico, a country he barely knows, he was finally allowed to return home to Kansas City. His attorney is now challenging the government’s actions, arguing he was wrongfully deported despite having all required legal documents.
#LawyerDenial #DefiedDueProcess #Deported
Seydou Ouattara- #0252
A 73‑year‑old grandmother who had lived and worked legally in the Bay Area for 33 years, was detained during a routine ICE check‑in and deported to India without warning. Despite having no criminal record and faithfully checking in with ICE for over a decade while waiting for travel documents, she was arrested, transferred between multiple detention centers, and removed from the country in the middle of the night. Her family and attorney say she was mistreated in detention, denied vegetarian meals, basic hygiene supplies, and even a bed, and that ICE ignored their requests to let her settle affairs or travel with family due to her age and medical needs.
#Senior #Disabled/Sick
"I feel very sad, I feel helpless, I feel like there’s nothing we can do and this is our only voice. There are thousands of Harjits locked up, everyone’s grandmas, mothers, families, children whose parents have been taken away from them, innocent people." Sukhjit Kaur (2).
Gladis Yolanda Chavez Pineda- #0275
An asylum‑seeker who had lived in the US for more than a decade, was arrested during what she thought was a routine ICE check‑in. Despite having a pending asylum case and a federal court stay protecting her from removal, she was taken into custody, held for four days in harsh conditions at the Broadview processing center, then transferred to a Kentucky jail for over a month. She described being kept in crowded rooms with no beds, blankets, showers, or hygiene supplies. She was deported to Honduras in shackles, even though she had complied with all legal requirements and had no explanation for why ICE ignored her active case. Now back in Honduras, she is speaking out about the trauma and “inhumane” treatment she endured. #CheckInDetainment #InadequateConditions #Deported #DefiedDueProcess
(1) https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2025/07/28/honduran-woman-held-at-broadview-ice-facility-describes-conditions-as-inhumane (2) https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-area-immigrant-advocate-arrested-ice/ (3) https://abc7chicago.com/post/broadview-protest-demands-release-chicago-mother-detained-ice-during-south-loop-routine-check/16680128/
Regina Higuera- #0276
A 51‑year‑old mother and garment worker who had lived in the US for 36 years, chose to self‑deport to Mexico in June 2025 after her work permit expired and escalating ICE raids made her feel unsafe even leaving her home. With no money to renew her documents and terrified of being detained or separated from her children, she stopped working, avoided public spaces, and ultimately decided to leave on her own terms. Her family drove her to Tijuana so she could cross the border without risking arrest at LAX, and she then traveled to Guerrero, where she is now living in a small home she had begun building for retirement. Though relieved to feel physically safe, she deeply misses her family, who are still adjusting to life without her. (This calls attention to a new trend of people who have a history of legal status and being upstanding residents leaving the United States.)
Juan Francisco Mendez- #0277
A Guatemalan asylum seeker living in Massachusetts who was violently detained by ICE while driving to an appointment with his wife. He had no criminal record and was in the process of legally applying for derivative asylum. Agents reportedly smashed his car window with a hammer and pulled him out, despite reportedly searching for someone with a different name. His wife who was already granted asylum along with their nine‑year‑old son recorded the incident and has described the trauma it caused their family. Mendez spent about a week at Strafford County Corrections in ICE custody during his time there he was not charged with any crime. He was ordered to be released which was not honored until another bail bond hearing and release order.
#ExcessiveForce #Released
Dmitrii Georgiev- #0278
A Bulgarian man living in Germany claims that while on vacation in Quebec his GPS mistakenly led him to a U.S. border where he was arrested and pulled into ICE custody. He told reporters, “I was not asking for asylum” and said he simply wanted to return to Canada and fly home. Instead, he spent two and a half months being transferred through roughly a dozen ICE facilities across seven states, often shackled and sleeping on concrete floors. His lawyer said there was no reason ICE didn’t allow “voluntary removal,” noting Georgiev had no criminal history and repeatedly asked for the paperwork, only to be ignored . Georgiev described feeling trapped in a system where “rules are not working” (1). ICE later claimed he was reported as a “suspicious individual” and had drugs, though no charges were filed. After weeks of uncertainty, Georgiev ultimately appeared to be deported just before the new year, ending what his lawyer called a case of “departmental incompetence.”
#Released #InadequateConditions #Tourist
Dylan Lopez Contreras- #0279
A 21‑year‑old asylum seeker from Venezuela and a student at a high school in the Bronx, was released this week after spending nearly a year in immigration detention following his arrest at a routine court appearance. His case became widely known as the first involving a New York City public school student detained during this immigration crackdown. Lopez Contreras entered the U.S. in 2024 and worked as a delivery driver while attending school. He described his detainment as “uncomfortable, stressful and monotonous,” especially being cut off from his phone and community. He said, “We didn’t deserve to be there… I have to continue fighting for them.” Upon his release, he must continue routine check‑ins, but remains at risk of deportation.
#CheckInDetainment #Released
Ward Sakeik- #0280
A 22‑year‑old “stateless” woman born in Saudi Arabia to a family from Gaza spent 140 days in ICE detention after being arrested on her honeymoon despite having complied with U.S. immigration supervision requirements for over a decade. She and her husband had decided to travel only within the U.S. because she has no citizenship, no passport, and no country able to receive her. Yet she was detained first in the Virgin Islands and again in Miami, then moved through multiple facilities where officers seemed unaware of her long‑standing Order of Supervision. Sakeik described unsafe and degrading conditions, including dusty dorms and dismissive treatment from staff, and said the experience left her feeling disoriented and powerless after years of building a life and career. Her detention nearly culminated in a sudden attempted removal flight, before officials abruptly reversed course, leaving her in limbo until her eventual release.
“It’s very normal to bond off of trauma. So a lot of friendships are being made in there. You have to now make family there, because God knows how long it’s gonna take for you to see your actual family.” Sakeik (2). #InadequateConditions
Baldomero Noa-Castaneda- #0281
...Coming Soon
#Senior #Deported #Disabled/Sick
Wilfredo Castillo- #0282
A 47‑year‑old Venezuelan asylum seeker who fled persecution was detained by ICE at a check-in despite reportedly complying with requirements. He spent 11 months in the Northwest Detention Center, where conditions were described as harsh and where he was stabbed multiple times by another detainee. According to the document, detention made it nearly impossible for him to gather evidence or secure legal help, and his asylum case was accelerated while he was incarcerated. A judge ultimately ruled he could not be returned to Venezuela because he faced a likelihood of torture, but ICE still attempted to deport him to Mexico without securing travel documents. A federal court ordered his release, finding his prolonged detention unjustified. Now home with his family, Castillo remains anxious and fearful.
#CheckInDetainment #InadequateConditions #DefiedCourtOrder
Misslenys Hernandez Zabala- #0283
A Venezuelan mother was detained by ICE in Nashville despite having a valid work permit, which left her 10‑month‑old son without her (even though she was still breastfeeding at the time). She was taken into custody on her way to work, and advocates and her partner say she has complied with all legal requirements while awaiting an asylum hearing years away. Attempts to secure her release due to the baby’s needs were rejected, reflecting a shift in federal enforcement that has led to the detention and deportation of pregnant or nursing women.
#Pregnant&Postpartum
Ingrid Mejia- #0284
A 25‑year‑old Guatemalan mother who was separated from her 3‑year‑old son after being jailed for driving without a license, which triggered an ICE detainer when her fingerprints revealed she was undocumented. After completing her three‑day sentence, she was transferred to immigration detention for 125 days, during which her son was placed in foster care because the friend she named as a caregiver feared opening the door to police. Local child welfare agencies were unsure how to coordinate with ICE and sent conflicting messages about how to reunite with her son. Her history of fleeing violence, entering the U.S. as a teenager on borrowed documents, and struggling to work without legal status complicated her situation, while experts warned of lasting trauma from the forced separation. After her deportation case was dismissed in July, Mejia was released and slowly began reunification, ultimately regaining custody after officials determined her home and support system were stable enough for her son to return.
#Caregivers #Released
Wualner Sauceda- #0285
A 24‑year‑old Honduran who grew up in South Florida and had recently become a middle school science teacher was detained during a routine immigration check‑in in January and deported a month later after years of unsuccessful attempts to secure legal status. Sauceda had fled violence in Honduras as a teen, excelled in U.S. schools, earned a chemistry degree and had just begun his teaching career when immigration officers abruptly took him into custody. He described harsh conditions in detention, being shackled before his deportation flight, and the emotional shock of being returned to a rural Honduran village lacking basic infrastructure after spending most of his adolescence and adulthood in the U.S. (Where is the American Dream? Does it still exist?)
#CheckInDetainment #SolitaryConfinement/Restraints #Caregivers
Carolina Suarez Estrada & Luciano (7 Year Old)- #0286
A 33‑year‑old Colombian mother living in Colorado with a valid work permit, was arrested by ICE inside a courthouse and detained along with her 7‑year‑old son, Luciano, despite a state law prohibiting courthouse arrests. ICE transported them to a family detention center in Texas, where they remained for nearly a month before an immigration judge ordered their release. Suarez already had an asylum hearing scheduled for 2026 and faced no criminal charges. She claimed that she and her son were treated like criminals, prompting community outrage. Her story highlights, again, how people with no criminal record are detained by ICE. #Children #DefiedCourtOrder #Released
Arnulfo Bazán‑Carrillo & Arnaldo Bazan (16- Year-Old)- #0287
The family says masked officers with no identification repeatedly rammed their vehicle. Videos show agents tackling, choking, and injuring the teenager, contradicting DHS’s public denials, and Arnoldo’s seized phone was later found sold for cash at a Walmart kiosk. Arnulfo was rapidly deported after officials allegedly threatened to charge his son unless he signed removal papers, while Arnoldo required hospital treatment and continues to suffer trauma. The incident, now under investigation, illustrates aggressive enforcement tactics, lack of oversight, and blurred accountability.
#Children #Deported #ExcessiveForce #LiesByICE
2 Sixteen Year Olds- #0288
Two Sixteen year olds were caught up in Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. Agents boxed her in, accusing her of hitting their car. Even agents in the video claim it was a minor accident. They then proceeded to put the teens in shackles without reading them their Miranda Rights.
#USCitizen #Children #ExcessiveForce #SolitaryConfinement/Restraints
Andry Hernandez Romero- #0289
A 32‑year‑old Venezuelan makeup artist who became the public face of more than 250 Venezuelan migrants deported by the U.S. to El Salvador under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. He returned home describing four months in El Salvador’s CECOT mega‑prison as “an encounter with torture and death.” He and others allege they were beaten, shot with rubber projectiles, kept in darkness, and fed rotten food, leaving many with fractured ribs, broken fingers, and visible injuries. The U.S. had accused the men of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang, claims families and lawyers dispute, noting Hernández had an active asylum case and was targeted over tattoos honoring his parents. Hernández also alleges sexual abuse by guards, prompting Venezuela to announce an investigation into President Nayib Bukele’s government, while DHS dismissed the detainees as “criminal, illegal gang members.” Reunited with his family, Hernández said the support from loved ones sustained him through the ordeal.
#LiesByICE #DefiedDueProcess #Released #InadequateConditions #ExcessiveForce
Alvaro Castro Velasquez- #0290
An 18‑year‑old who came to the US alone at 16 and had no criminal record and was detained by ICE just days before his graduation. Despite having been granted deferred action as a juvenile, he was transferred to a Texas detention center, where his Superintendent flew at his own expense in an unsuccessful attempt to deliver the teen’s diploma. Fearing prolonged detention and feeling unsafe, Velasquez ultimately agreed to self‑deport to Guatemala. Determined not to let the student lose the milestone he earned, the superintendent travelled to Guatemala to personally give him his diploma.
#InadequateConditions
Harol Alvarado Rodriguez- #0291
A New Jersey man endured what he called “seven weeks of hell” after ICE mistakenly arrested him during a traffic stop and sent him to detention centers many States away, despite his repeated insistence that he was a lawful permanent resident from Belize with no criminal record. ICE agents insisted he was a Jamaican national with a criminal history, ignored his documentation, and transferred him across multiple states while his family frantically tried to prove his identity. Robertson described filthy conditions, inadequate medical care, and constant fear while detained, saying he felt “buried alive.” After weeks of pressure from his attorney and family, an immigration judge finally reviewed his case, confirmed his legal status, and ordered his release.
#InadequateConditions #Disabled/Sick
Irvin Cruz-Nape- #0292
A 44‑year‑old longtime Ontario resident with no known preexisting health conditions, died on March 4, just weeks after being released from the Adelanto Processing Center, where he had been detained for four months. According to his family’s attorney, he repeatedly reported chest pains while in custody, though his family claims he was never allowed access to medical care. Homeland Security officials say he declined a sick call after requesting to see medical staff, while his family, now devastated, awaits autopsy results to understand what happened. His death has come days after Alberto Gutierrez Reyes’ death and has intensified scrutiny of Adelanto’s history of alleged inadequate medical care and inhumane conditions. #Death #Disabled/Sick #InadequateConditions
El Gamal (16-Year Old)- #0293
During the nine months the El Gamal family has been detained at the Dilley immigration facility, the 16‑year‑old reported sudden, intense abdominal pain that made him unable to walk to the medical unit. Hours later, when he was finally brought in by wheelchair, a nurse dismissed his symptoms and told him to return only if the pain continued for three more days. His condition worsened in the waiting room, where he collapsed to his hands and knees and vomited. Only after this visible distress did staff treat the situation as an emergency and transfer him to a nearby hospital, where he was diagnosed with appendicitis. #Disabled/Sick #Children #InadequateConditions
Vilma Bautista Torres and Kenek (9-year old) #0294
Vilma Bautista Torres and her 9‑year‑old son, Kenek, fled Honduras and had been living peacefully in the U.S. while pursuing asylum before they were suddenly detained for more than 80 days at the Dilley family detention center. Kenek, who has Level 3 autism and depends on specialized schooling and daily therapy, deteriorated rapidly in custody without access to the support he needed. He became increasingly distressed, engaging in self‑harm, experiencing sensory overload, and suffering repeated meltdowns. Bautista Torres described the period as the most painful of their lives, watching her son lose skills, stability, and months of education. After attorneys intervened, the family was released on parole, but she now worries about the lasting trauma and the time her son can never regain. #Disabled/Sick #Children #InadequateConditions
Ricardo Rodriguez- #0295
A 53‑year‑old construction worker who has lived in the U.S. for decades, was violently detained by ICE agents while riding his bike to buy groceries. Video shows agents putting him in a chokehold and striking his head before handcuffing him, after which he was taken to the hospital with chest pains and a head wound. His family has been barred from seeing him or receiving updates, leaving them fearful about his condition and the possibility of deportation. Loved ones describe Rodriguez as gentle, hardworking, and without a criminal record, and community members have rallied outside the hospital demanding transparency and access for his family. #ExcessiveForce #InadequateConditions
Pablo Grave De La Cruz- #0296
A 36‑year‑old restaurant worker who has lived in Rhode Island for nearly two decades, was seized by ICE moments after leaving traffic court, where he had just pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Masked agents surrounded and handcuffed him in front of his friend and lawyer, then transferred him through multiple detention facilities without notice. Though ICE cited his past DUI convictions, his family and advocates argue the aggressive courthouse arrest was unnecessary and dangerous, fueling fear that keeps immigrants from accessing the justice system. His husband, Sam Spadavecchia, spent weeks trying to locate him before learning Pablo had been moved to a detention center near the Texas-Mexico border. Ultimately granted voluntary departure, Pablo must now self‑deport to Guatemala, leaving behind his home, marriage, and the life he built over 19 years.
ICE Boston spokesperson James Covington told 12 News regarding Grave de la Cruz: "Allowing this alien offender to remain on the streets of Rhode Island only places the safety of our neighbors in jeopardy. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders."
A GoFundMe set up on Grave de la Cruz's behalf states: "Pablo has lived in Rhode Island for 19 years, more than half of his life. He is a beloved member of the hospitality community, working in the top restaurants in the state, including many years at Los Andes and most recently as a server at the prestigious Capital Grille, which he is very proud of. He has been married to his partner Sam for 9 years this September. Pablo has been a hard working taxpayer all these years while waiting for his marriage visa to be approved."
Andrea Pedro-Francisco- #0297
A 23‑year‑old mother from Minnesota detained in Texas while suffering from a large ovarian cyst that urgently requires surgery. Despite severe, worsening pain and a doctor outside detention prescribing an opioid, she has received little more than Tylenol or ibuprofen since her arrest. A hospital confirmed the cyst but refused to operate because she is in ICE custody, and bureaucratic barriers have prevented her lawyers and even members of Congress from securing proper medical care or oversight. ICE has repeatedly suggested she “self‑deport” instead of providing treatment, leaving her stuck in detention, in pain, and unable to access the surgery she needs while her legal challenge moves slowly through the courts. #Disabled/Sick #Caregivers #InadequateConditions
Kaleth (2-Year-Old)- #0298
A two year old was detained with his mother at the Dilley family detention center in Texas, became sick with a fever and stopped eating the food provided, food that other detainees have reported contains mold and even worms. When his mother sought medical help, staff dismissed his symptoms as “mental,” according to Rep. Joaquin Castro. Castro publicly condemned the facility for denying the child proper care and called for Kaleth and his mother to be released immediately.
#InadequateConditions #Children #Disabled/Sick
Jose Guadalupe Ramos-Solano- #0299
A 52‑year‑old Mexican national detained at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center in California, died on March 25 after being found unresponsive in his bunk. His death is the fourth at the facility since September. Although ICE claims he received daily medical care for diabetes and other conditions, witnesses reported seeing him struggling to breathe before help arrived, raising concerns about delayed or inadequate medical response. His death has prompted the Mexican government to demand an immediate investigation, citing serious deficiencies in medical care at Adelanto, which is already facing a class‑action lawsuit over alleged abuse, neglect, and unsafe conditions. His family is seeking answers, while ICE claims they are investigating the death of a “criminal illegal alien previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance and theft.” (It is interesting to me that ICE can pull his criminal record to publish but will not release the autopsy of previous death or provide transparency for the investigations.)
#Death #InadequateConditions
Akinleye (12-Year-Old) - #0300
A 12‑year‑old Anchorage boy is facing deportation as immigration enforcement intensifies, even though his attorney argues he is a U.S. citizen through his father, Bolanle Meshach Akinleye, a naturalized American and Navy veteran. Although Akinleye has long acted as the boy’s father and even sworn under oath that the child is his, he has repeatedly avoided court‑ordered DNA tests. Despite evidence including birth records and a DNA test from Akinleye’s brother indicating the boy is related to the family, USCIS denied the child’s citizenship application and initiated removal proceedings. The case unfolds amid a sharp rise in deportations in Alaska. The boy’s mother, who is seeking asylum, also risks deportation, and her case may depend on proving her son’s citizenship.
#Children