The Numbers Behind the Headlines
The scope of what has unfolded defies easy comprehension. On any given day in January 2026, some seventy-three thousand people were held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody—more than at any point in American history, and an eighty-four-per-cent increase from the year before. The majority of these detainees, according to data analyzed by the Cato Institute, had committed no crime at all.
Detained Population
Without Criminal Convictions
Violent Offenders
Deaths in 2025
Deaths in January 2026
U.S. Citizens Detained
What the numbers cannot capture is the texture of individual lives disrupted—the five-year-old taken from his walk home from school, the nurse shot dead while filming a protest, the grandmother detained at a routine government appointment. These cases, documented in the sections that follow, are not abstractions. They are the human particulars of a policy that has reshaped the landscape of American civil liberties.
When Citizenship Offered No Protection
ProPublica's investigation documented more than a hundred and seventy instances, through October 2025 alone, of American citizens held against their will by federal immigration agents. Some were detained for hours; others for days. A few, it must be noted, were killed. In nearly every case, the agents appeared indifferent to protestations of citizenship—as though the Fourth Amendment had become, for practical purposes, a historical curiosity rather than a binding constraint.
"I'm a citizen. I'm a citizen."Mubashir Khalif Hussen, twenty, repeated these words as masked agents shackled him on a Minneapolis street. They refused to examine his identification.
ChongLy "Scott" Thao, 56
On a frigid Sunday afternoon, federal agents forced open Thao's front door without a warrant, detained him at gunpoint in front of his four-year-old grandson, and marched him outside wearing only underwear and sandals. Thao, who came to the United States from Laos as a child in 1974 and has been a citizen since 1991, was driven to an undisclosed location, photographed, and eventually released when agents confirmed what he had been telling them all along: he was an American with no criminal record. His mother, Choua Thao, had fled Laos after supporting American covert operations there and later worked as a nurse treating CIA-backed soldiers.
Mubashir Khalif Hussen, 20
Hussen was walking to lunch when masked federal agents surrounded him on the street. He stated repeatedly that he was an American citizen. The agents declined to examine his identification. He was shackled, driven to a processing facility, fingerprinted, and photographed before being released. He is now a named plaintiff in an ACLU class-action lawsuit alleging that federal agents engaged in racial profiling and conducted suspicionless stops of Minnesotans.
Adrian Andrew Martinez
American citizen born in Los Angeles detained outside Walmart by ICE agents in tactical gear. Held incommunicado with officials denying knowledge of his whereabouts.
George Retes (U.S. Army Veteran)
U.S. Army combat veteran detained during marijuana farm raid. Held three days without phone contact; family found him through TikTok video. Suffered cut leg and pepper spray burns.
Maria Greeley (age 44)
U.S. citizen detained by ICE on way home from work. Hands forced behind back and zip-tied.
Debbie Brockman (WGN-TV Employee)
U.S. citizen detained for seven hours after videotaping agents and asking if they had a warrant.
Jose "Joey" Martinez
Border Patrol agents entered cruise ship room while Martinez and wife were sleeping and detained him.
Rafie Ollah Shouhed (age 79)
Knocked over and tackled during car wash raid. Officers pressed knees into neck and back. Held 12 hours without medical attention. Suffered broken ribs; recent heart surgery patient.
Job Garcia
U.S. citizen assaulted and unlawfully detained while recording agents on phone. MALDEF seeking $1 million in damages.
Leonardo Garcia Venegas
Detained twice while filming immigration raids at construction site. Valid REAL ID dismissed as fake. Handcuffed over one hour on first occasion. Filed federal lawsuit.
Renee Nicole Good (age 37) — KILLED
U.S. citizen fatally shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after she attempted to drive away from federal agents who surrounded her car. Sparked Rep. Robin Kelly to introduce articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (140 Democratic cosponsors).
Alex Jeffrey Pretti (age 37) — KILLED
U.S. citizen and VA ICU nurse shot multiple times and killed by CBP agents. Videos contradict administration statements — they do not show Pretti holding a weapon during the encounter. NPR investigation found eyewitnesses refute federal account.
Rev. Kenny Callaghan
Southern California native and U.S. citizen detained by ICE while observing a protest near where Renée Good was shot and killed.
Godinez and Napolés (stepbrothers)
U.S. citizens detained by ICE after responding to scene where their co-workers were detained. ICE attempted to grab Godinez's phone and apparently struck him before leaving.
George and Esmeralda Doilez (Trump voters)
U.S. citizens, both Trump voters, detained by Border Patrol officers. Followed by unmarked SUV en route to dentist, pulled over by masked, plainclothes officials with weapons. Told they were detained due to a "known alien out in the area."
Documented Wrongful Deportations
Kilmar Abrego Garcia — Supreme Court Case
Background: El Salvadoran who fled at age 16 to escape gang threats. Had legal "withholding of removal" protection granted in 2019. Wife and children are U.S. citizens; lived in Maryland.
What happened: Stopped by immigration agents March 12, 2025. Incorrectly told his legal status changed. Deported to El Salvador's maximum-security CECOT prison.
Supreme Court: Ruled unanimously (April 10, 2025) that government must "facilitate" his return.
Return: June 6, 2025 — returned to U.S. but immediately indicted on unrelated charges. Released on bail; ICE attempted re-detention; released again December 11, 2025.
The Children
In the semantic universe of immigration enforcement, families are "units," and children are "minors" or "juveniles." The language serves a purpose: it insulates the policy-maker from the human particulars. But the particulars are difficult to avoid. In 2025, more than thirty-eight hundred children passed through ICE detention facilities. A five-year-old named Liam, wearing a bunny hat and carrying a Spider-Man backpack, became a national symbol of the policy when a photograph of his detention went viral. His surname, Conejo, means "rabbit" in Spanish—a detail that would seem too on-the-nose for fiction.
Children Detained in 2025
Held Over 20 Days
Liam Conejo Ramos (age 5)
This viral photo shows 5-year-old Liam wearing his bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack being detained by ICE agents. His family entered legally via CBP One app to seek asylum. Agents allegedly used him "as bait" to get the family to open the door. His mother reports he has been sick with fever, stomachache, and diarrhea without receiving medicine.
"We're seeing absence levels comparable to COVID. A quarter of our school is not with us."— Valley View Elementary Principal, where 24 families have had parents detained
Colombian Family (South Carolina)
Family of five went to government office for fingerprinting appointment. Parents detained; three children (ages 5, 11, 15) sent to shelter system for four months.
Austin Mother & U.S. Citizen Daughter
ICE arrested mother and 5-year-old U.S. citizen daughter. Both deported to Honduras within days without opportunity to speak with attorney or appear before judge.
Columbia Heights School District (Multiple Students)
In an elementary school of 574 students, 24 families have had parents detained. School reports 4 students have been detained by ICE including: Liam (age 5), a 17-year-old taken heading to school, a 10-year-old, and another 17-year-old.
Children Left Behind at Mercado Central
Two children were left behind after ICE arrested their mother across the street from Mercado Central. The children didn't know their mother's birth date, making it difficult to track her in the detention database.
The Dead
In 2025, more people died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody than in any year since 2004—more, even, than during the worst months of the pandemic. December was the deadliest single month on record. January 2026 began as the previous year had ended: four people died in the first ten days. One of those deaths, the El Paso County Medical Examiner determined, was a homicide.
Cause of Death: Homicide
On January 3, 2026, Geraldo Lunas Campos, a fifty-five-year-old Cuban immigrant, died at Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas. The Department of Homeland Security initially stated that he had "attempted suicide." Witnesses told a different story: that at least five guards had held him down, and that one had wrapped an arm around his neck and squeezed until he lost consciousness. On January 21, the medical examiner issued the autopsy report. Cause of death: asphyxia due to compression of the neck and torso. Manner of death: homicide.
"He complained for weeks and they only gave him pain medication."The family of Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, sixty-eight, who died of heart-related issues on January 6 at Imperial Regional Detention Facility in California.
January 2026 Deaths
| Name | Age | Nationality | Facility | Date | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geraldo Lunas Campos | 55 | Cuban | Camp East Montana, Texas | Jan 3, 2026 | Ruled homicide; autopsy found "asphyxia due to neck and torso compression" |
| Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres | 42 | Honduran | Joe Corley Processing Center, Texas | Jan 5, 2026 | Heart-related health issues |
| Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz | 68 | — | Imperial Regional, California | Jan 6, 2026 | Heart-related; family says complained for weeks, only received pain medication |
| Parady La | 46 | Cambodian | FDC Philadelphia | Jan 9, 2026 | Drug withdrawal symptoms; anoxic brain injury |
| Heber Sanchez Dominguez | 34 | Mexican | Robert A Deyton, Georgia | Jan 14, 2026 | Found hanging; detained only 7 days |
| Victor Manuel Diaz | — | Nicaraguan | Camp East Montana, Texas | Jan 14, 2026 | Found unconscious; ICE stated "presumed suicide"; family disputes |
U.S. Citizens Killed by Federal Agents (January 2026)
Renée Nicole Good
Age 37, U.S. Citizen, Mother of 3
Shot by ICE agent Jonathan Ross after she tried to drive away from federal agents who surrounded her car. Her killing sparked articles of impeachment against DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (140 Democratic cosponsors).
"Renee was one of the kindest people I've ever known. She was extremely compassionate."— Her mother
Alex Jeffrey Pretti
Age 37, U.S. Citizen, VA ICU Nurse
Shot multiple times and killed by CBP agents while filming law enforcement. Videos contradict administration statements — they do not show Pretti holding a weapon. He was a legal gun owner with no criminal record.
All Deaths by Federal Agents (2025-2026)
| Name | Age | Location | Date | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Porter | 43 | Los Angeles | Dec 31, 2025 | Shot by off-duty ICE agent; disputed circumstances |
| Renee Nicole Good ★ | 37 | Minneapolis | Jan 7, 2026 | U.S. citizen shot after attempting to drive away from federal agents |
| Alex Pretti ★ | 37 | Minneapolis | Jan 25, 2026 | U.S. citizen, VA nurse shot during enforcement operation |
★ U.S. Citizen
Worksite Raids
Publicly Reported Raids
Total Arrests
| Location | Date | Arrests | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Battery Plant, Ellabell, GA | Sept 4, 2025 | ~475 | Largest single-site raid in DHS history; majority South Korean nationals; lawyers say many were lawfully authorized | AIC |
| Meat Production Plant, Omaha, NE | June 10, 2025 | ~70 | Company used E-Verify; ICE claimed system "is broken" | Nebraska Examiner |
| Emiliano's Restaurants, PA | 2025 | 16 | Two locations (Gibsonia and Cranberry) | PublicSource |
| El Toro Loco, Kansas City | July 30, 2025 | 12+ | Mexican restaurants | KCUR |
| Tucson Restaurant Network, AZ | Dec 5, 2025 | 46 | 9 restaurants + 7 associated locations | ICE press release |
Enforcement at Churches & Sensitive Locations
Policy Change: January 20, 2025
Trump administration rescinded 13-year-old policy requiring additional authority for enforcement at churches, schools, and hospitals.
St. Gabriel's Catholic Church
Church employee Francisco Paredes (46, lived in U.S. 25 years, one DUI conviction) handcuffed in parking lot. ICE later returned and surveilled parish during Mass. Attendance at Spanish Mass dropped by 50%.
Inland Empire Catholic Churches
Multiple men detained on church grounds. Bishop of San Bernardino lifted Mass attendance obligation for Catholics concerned about raids.
Downey Memorial Christian Church
Pastor Tanya Lopez confronted masked agents in parking lot. Agents raised weapon at her after she identified herself as pastor.
Legal Challenges
Four separate lawsuits filed by religious denominations arguing enforcement on church grounds violates First Amendment right to freely worship.
High-Profile Arrests
Mahmoud Khalil — Columbia University Graduate
Background: Columbia University graduate, Palestinian refugee from Syria, green card holder married to U.S. citizen.
Arrest: Arrested without warrant (government later admitted). Transferred to Louisiana detention far from pregnant wife and legal team.
Duration: 100+ days in ICE custody.
Legal: Judge ruled relevant INA section likely unconstitutional; ordered release on bail June 21, 2025. Travel restrictions lifted October 2025; appeals court later vacated release order.
Legal Actions & Court Rulings
Operation Metro Surge Violations
Minnesota chief U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz found ICE violated at least 96 court orders in January 2026 alone. 500 habeas filings in 2026, on pace to double 2025 total.
Hussen v. Noem (ACLU Class Action)
ACLU filed class-action lawsuit challenging racial profiling, unlawful seizures, and warrantless arrests as violations of Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia - Supreme Court
Supreme Court ruled unanimously that government must "facilitate" return of wrongfully deported Maryland resident who had legal protection from removal.
Refugee Protection (Operation PARRIS)
Federal judge issued TRO preventing arrest/detention of lawfully resettled refugees. Ordered immediate release of detained refugees.
Mahmoud Khalil Case
Government admitted arresting green card holder without warrant. Judge ruled INA section likely unconstitutional; ordered release after 100+ days. Appeals court later vacated release order.
Congressional Demand for Investigation
50 members of Congress (led by Rep. Dan Goldman, Sen. Elizabeth Warren) demanded investigations into wrongful detention of U.S. citizens.
Corporate Network: Who Profits from ICE
Following the Money
For every death in custody, every separated family, every wrongful detention — someone profits. Private companies have reaped $22 billion in contracts with ICE and CBP in fiscal year 2025 alone.
Major Detention Contractors
GEO Group
Largest ICE contractor. Operates detention facilities and ankle monitoring through subsidiary BI Incorporated. Stock up 39% since Trump inauguration. Donated $2M to Trump campaign/inaugural. CEO quote: "Our business is perfectly aligned with the demands of this moment."
CoreCivic
Second-largest private prison company. Reopened Dilley family detention center (holding 5-year-old Liam Ramos). Has 30,000 additional beds available for ICE. Donated $816K to Trump. Employs Trump ally Jeff Miller as lobbyist.
BI Incorporated (GEO Subsidiary)
Manufactures GPS ankle monitors for ICE's "Alternatives to Detention" program. Monitors 183,000+ immigrants. Collects biometric data, facial images, voice prints, location history. Now operating bounty hunter program to locate immigrants.
Technology & Surveillance
Palantir Technologies
Building "ImmigrationOS" — AI platform to track immigrants using passport records, Social Security files, IRS data, license plate readers. Also provides FALCON and ICM systems for raids. 13 former employees published open letter warning ethical guardrails being dismantled.
Clearview AI
Provides facial recognition to ICE. Scraped billions of photos from social media. Banned from Illinois law enforcement but still used by federal agencies. At least 8 wrongful arrests due to false positives in 2026.
Amazon Web Services
Hosts DHS systems used for detention and deportation. Amazon investing $50B to expand AI for Trump administration. Workers and 30+ shareholders demanding report on ICE use. Global "Make Amazon Pay" protests targeted ICE contracts.
Microsoft Azure
Partner with AWS on ICE cloud infrastructure contract. Hosts ICE systems in Azure GovCloud. Employee activists have protested ICE contracts since 2018.
Data Brokers
LexisNexis (RELX)
Provides Accurint tool giving 11,000+ ICE agents access to dossiers on 282 million identities. Includes SSN, addresses, phone numbers, workplaces, social media, relatives. Makes "predictions" before "crime and fraud can materialize."
Thomson Reuters
Provides CLEAR platform that creates profiles by aggregating court records, business filings, driving records, social media. Target of #NoTechForICE campaign and investor pressure from BCGEU union (95,000 members).
Deportation Transport
CSI Aviation
Prime contractor for ICE deportation flights. Subcontracts to smaller carriers. Received no-bid $219M contract for 2025. Currently under legal challenge from competitor Classic Air Charter.
GlobalX
Handles over half of DHS charter deportation flights. Operated 1,158 of 1,564 ICE removal flights in 2024. Stock up 39% since Trump took office.
Avelo Airlines
Only scheduled passenger airline flying ICE deportation flights. Terminated contract January 9, 2026 citing "political controversy, operational complexity, and insufficient revenue."
Construction & Facilities
KPB Services LLC
Owned by Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation. Awarded no-bid contract for "due diligence services and concept design for processing centers and mega centers." Tribal chairman says he's "heartbroken" and wants to cancel contract.
U.S. Navy (Construction)
DHS is funneling $10 billion through the Navy to accelerate detention facility construction. Bypasses normal contracting to speed up building of mega-detention centers.
Retail & Other Companies Facing Pressure
Home Depot
Stores targeted by Stephen Miller for ICE raids on day laborers. Partnership with Flock Safety surveillance cameras under investor scrutiny — data allegedly used in ICE investigations. Denies cooperating with ICE but refuses to end surveillance partnership.
Target
Border Patrol walked through St. Paul store Jan 11, 2026. Under fire for "broad range of cooperation with Trump administration." CEO signed open letter calling for "deescalation" after Alex Pretti shooting.
Recent News Coverage
Federal judge says she won't halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota
A federal judge says she won't halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota and the Twin Cities as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
US: Second Unjustified Killing by Federal Agents in Minneapolis
Federal immigration enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis, Minnesota, marking the second killing by immigration enforcement agents in the city this month.
Department of Homeland Security intensifies surveillance in immigration raids
Department of Homeland Security officials insist their immigration enforcement operations are "highly targeted."
Data Sources & Research
TRAC Reports (Syracuse University)
Real-time ICE detention statistics, criminal conviction breakdowns, facility data
tracreports.org/immigration/quickfactsAmerican Immigration Council
Report: "Immigration Detention Is Bigger, Harsher, and Less Accountable Than Ever" (2026)
americanimmigrationcouncil.orgProject On Government Oversight
ICE inspections dropped 36.25% in 2025 as detentions surged
pogo.orgSubmit a Tip
If you have firsthand knowledge of an immigration enforcement incident, a death in custody, or other information relevant to this database, you can submit it here. All submissions are reviewed before publication. We verify information through public records and news sources before adding any case to the database.