Tracking Controversial Deportations and Detainments Under the Trump Administration

Last updated 3/30/26 at 3:57pm ET

AllSides is tracking the latest developments and updates on controversial deportations and detainments under the Trump administration. See daily developments on the cases of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, Mahmoud Khalil, and others.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have deported or detained some individuals who arrived in the US legally or held protected status. Reasons range from anti-Israel speech, to alleged gang affiliations, to “administrative errors”. Some are accusing the Trump administration of stifling First Amendment rights and other constitutional protections.

“Visiting America is not an entitlement,” said an op-ed from Secretary of State Marco Rubio published in April. “It is a privilege extended to those who respect our laws and values. And, as Secretary of State, I will never forget that.” On April 30, the Department of Homeland Security published a list of "non-exhaustive list of facts, to help set the record straight on numerous false and misleading stories that have spread around news coverage and social media" in regards to detainments and deportations.

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LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Estefany Rodríguez, a Nashville journalist who was arrested by immigration agents in early March, was released from ICE custody on March 19.
• All Trump Burger locations have shut down as owner Roland Beainy remains in ICE custody.
• New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a photo with Mahmoud Khalil from inside Gracie Mansion on March 9.
• Nurul Amin Shah Alam, a blind refugee from Myanmar, was found dead in upstate New York 5 days after Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a coffee shop.
• Kelly Yu was released from ICE custody after 8 and a half months. She is required to wear an ankle tracking monitor and have regular court check ins until further developments with her authorization to remain in the US.
• New details about Seamus Culleton's past, including unresolved drug charges in Ireland and allegations of harassment from his ex-wife, were reported by The Boston Globe (Left). 

Refugee - Nurul Amin Shah Alam

Deceased

Latest Updates: 

• Nurul Amin Shah Alam was found dead in upstate New York on February 24, 5 days after Border Patrol agents dropped him off at a coffee shop.
• Border Patrol agents dropped Shah Alam off at the coffee shop he requested to be taken to, which was closed at the time.
• Border Patrol agents determined Shah Alam was ineligible for removal and used a translator program to communicate with him and ask where he would like to be dropped off. Agents allege he asked to be dropped off at a coffee shop in a nearby area.
• Shah Alam was released from jail on February 19 and taken into custody by Border Patrol officers while his discharge was being processed.

Immigration Status: Shah Alam was in the US legally as a refugee from Myanmar. 

Reason for Detention: He faced criminal charges that were eventually resolved with a misdemeanor deal for an incident in which he waved his walking stick at police officers and bit them as they attempted to arrest him after firing a stun gun on him. He was eligible for release on bail while waiting for his sentencing hearing, which was scheduled for March 24.

Opposition: Shah Alam's family was not contacted about his release. Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan called Shah Alam's death "preventable," saying that the federal agents' decision to drop him off at the coffee shop was "bad policing, but that is also bad human beings. That is an inhumane thing to do." Shah Alam's wife said, "He was everything to me. He loved me all his life. He was very loving and caring. He never raised his voice. He was a very calm and collected man, and he always take[s] the responsibility of the whole family, regardless of the situation."

More News Coverage: 

Nearly blind refugee found dead in New York days after immigration agents dropped him at a coffee shop alone, officials say
(CNN, Lean Left bias)

Permit to Work/Asylum Pending/Green Card Pending - Estefany Rodríguez

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update:

• Rodriguez was released from the Louisiana detention center on March 19.
• Rodriguez spent one week in a county jail in Alabama before being transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.
• Rodriguez was detained by ICE agents outside a gym on March 4 in Nashville, TN.

Immigration Status: Rodriguez entered the US lawfully in 2021 and originally applied for political asylum. She has since married a US citizen and applied for a green card. She has a valid work permit.

Reason for Detention: ICE reportedly told Rodriguez's attorney that she was detained for willingly missing two immigration interview appointments, though her attorney says this claim is not true. ICE also alleged that Rodriguez's tourist visa expired in March of 2021.

Opposition: Rodriguez's husband, a US citizen, said, "We’re concerned one of the motivating reasons could be that she’s a journalist." The program coordinator for the Committee to Project Journalists U.S., Canada, and Caribbean said, "The detention of Estefany Rodríguez by Department of Homeland Security agents is part of a shameful and alarming pattern of the Trump administration’s use of immigration authorities to clamp down on freedom of the press. Rodríguez came to the United States seeking safety from death threats she received for her reporting in her native Colombia and was in the United States legally at the time of her detention. The United States has traditionally been a safe haven for journalists fleeing retaliation in connection with their work. With Rodríguez’s case, federal authorities have shown a cruel disregard for this tradition."

More News Coverage:

Nashville Reporter Released From ICE Custody (New York Times, Lean Left bias)

Who Is Estefany Rodriguez Flores? Spanish News Reporter Arrested by ICE (Newsweek, Center bias)

Green Card Revoked - Chanthila Souvannarath

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• On October 26, Souvannarath’s wife received a message on WhatsApp informing her that Souvannarath was in Laos.
• U.S. District Court Judge Shelly Dick issued a temporary order delaying Souvannarath's deportation on October 23, writing that he would be unable to litigate his case effectively if deported.
• Chanthila Souvannarath was detained on June 18 during a routine immigration check-in.

Immigration Status: Souvannarath's attorneys said he qualified for derivative citizenship, as he was brought to the US and granted lawful permanent residence before he turned one, and his father was a naturalized US citizen. DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said that his green card was revoked and received a removal order in 2006 due to convictions for assault and unlawful possession of a firearm.

Reason for Deportation: McLaughlin said, "Chanthila Souvannarath, a criminal illegal alien, with a rap sheet that includes convictions for assault and unlawful possession of a firearm had no right to be in this country. Following his heinous crimes, he lost his green card, and an immigration judge ordered him removed in 2006. 20 years later, he tried a Hail Mary attempt to remain in our country by claiming he was a U.S. citizen. I know it’s shocking to the media—but criminal illegal aliens lie all the time." McLaughlin also said that the judge's temporary deportation delay was not served until after Souvannarath had been deported.

Opposition:  The ACLU of Louisiana called his deportation a “stunning violation of a federal court order.” The chapter's legal director said, "The deportation of an individual with a substantial claim to U.S. citizenship represents a catastrophic failure of the immigration system and a flagrant violation of constitutional rights."

More News Coverage: 

ICE Deports Dad Judge Said Had ‘Substantial’ US Citizenship Claim—ACLU (Newsweek, Center bias)

Judge's order blocking removal of man from U.S. wasn't received until after he was deported, DHS says (NBC News, Lean Left bias)

Green Card Applicant/Permit to Work - Seamus Culleton

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• New details about Culleton's life in Ireland, including unresolved drug charges and allegations of harassment from his ex-wife, were reported by The Boston Globe (Left).
• The deportation of Culleton has been temporarily halted by a court order.
• After appealing, ICE agents produced documents showing that Culleton had signed a deportation order. However, Culleton denies signing them and asked for the signatures to be examined by a handwriting expert. The judge noted several irregularities on the document but ultimately sided with ICE. 
• In November, a judge approved his release on a $4,000 bond, but the government denied his bond.
• Culleton was flown to an ICE facility in El Paso, TX, shortly after arriving in Buffalo. 
• On Sept. 15, Culleton was flown to an ICE facility in Buffalo, NY. At this facility, Culleton alleges that he refused to sign a deportation agreement and instead filled out a form to contest his arrest.
• Culleton was arrested on Sept. 9, 2025 while driving home from work near Boston, MA. 

Immigration Status: Culleton has been in the US since 2009 and is married to a US citizen. He has a work permit that was issued as a part of his green card application, for which he has one interview remaining. He does not have a criminal record, according to CNN (Lean Left bias).

Reason for Deportation: DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said that Culleton had entered the US on a 90-day visa, which he overstayed in 2009. "A pending green card application and work authorization does not give someone legal status to be in our country," McLaughlin said."

Opposition:  Culleton's attorney said, "Here’s a gentleman who is a model immigrant. He owned a successful business, he’s married to a US citizen." She expressed that it makes little sense that he would have agreed to be deported and that under typical circumstances in the past the government would have released him.

More News Coverage: 

'Absolute hell': Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September (The Irish Times, Center bias)

Status Unknown - C.R.T.V.

Released

Latest Updates: 

• She was released from custody on January 23 and returned to her mother in Minneapolis.
• C.R.T.V. was flown to a Texas detention facility with her father despite a court order which required her immediate release.
• A two-year-old identified as C.R.T.V. was detained with her father while coming home from the grocery store in Minneapolis on January 22.

Immigration Status: C.R.T.V. is a citizen of Ecuador, but has lived in the US since being brought to the country as a newborn. She has a pending asylum application.

Reason for Deportation: DHS said that it was pursuing C.R.T.V.'s father, identified as Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, in a "targeted enforcement operation." The agency said he was "driving erratically with a child in the vehicle" and "refused multiple lawful commands to open his door or lower his window." DHS alleged that agents attempted to give the toddler to her mother "who was in the area, but she refused."

Opposition: The family's lawyer said, "This case is horrific … Anybody who is a parent or cares for young kids knows the fear that happens when a child is separated from their parent. There is no way to know the long-term impact this will have on this little toddler."

More News Coverage: 

Minnesota toddler taken into ICE custody with father and flown to Texas is returned to mother next day, lawyer says (CNN, Lean Left bias)

US immigration agents detain two-year-old Minnesota girl: ‘depravity beyond words’ (The Guardian, Left bias)

Status Unknown - Liam Ramos

Released

Latest Updates: 

• Ramos was released from custody and returned to Minnesota along with his father.
• The superintendent of Ramos' school district arrived at the home shortly after he was detained. She said another adult from Ramos' home was outside during the arrest and asked to take care of Liam to avoid him being detained, but she was denied.
• Five-year-old Liam Ramos was detained with his father after arriving home from school on January 20.

Immigration Status: According to an attorney representing the Ramos family, the Ramos family, including Liam, had an active asylum case. Liam Ramos and his father arrived in the US through a legal port of entry and they did not have a deportation order against them. 

Reason for Deportation: DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, "ICE did NOT target a child. She said the agency was conducting a "targeted operation" to arrest Liam Ramos' father, who she called an "illegal alien."

Opposition: “The family did everything they were supposed to in accordance with how the rules have been set out,” the Ramos family's attorney said. “They did not come here illegally. They are not criminals.” Ramos' teacher said, "Liam is a bright young student. He is so kind and loving, and his classmates miss him. He comes into class every day and just brightens the room. All I want is for him to be back here and safe."

More News Coverage: 

ICE detains five-year-old Minnesota boy arriving home, say school officials (The Guardian, Left bias)

Status Unknown - Arlit Maria Martinez

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates: 

• Arlit Maria Martinez was released on bail and is awaiting formal removal proceedings, though she intends to return to Mexico to bury her son as soon as possible.
• Martinez's son died due to cancer on January 5 while Martinez was still in custody.
• Martinez was detained on January 3 while on the way to work.

Immigration Status: AllSides was unable to identify Martinez's immigration status, though WBOC News, an affiliate of CBS News (Lean Left) in Salisbury, MD, reported that they were unable to locate past criminal charges or a deportation order. The outlet located a traffic citation from 2015.

Reason for Deportation: Neither ICE nor DHS has commented on Martinez's arrest.

Opposition: Martinez's son, Ervin Martinez, wrote on a GoFundMe page, "She has no criminal record, no prior deportation, and has always worked hard to support us. My dad has been unable to work because he is the primary caregiver for my brother Kevin, who has been battling cancer." Martinez's family, lawyers, and doctors attempted to contact ICE to allow her to visit her son before he died, though ICE was not responsive. 

More News Coverage: 

Mom arrested by ICE days before teenage son dies of cancer (The Independent, Lean Left bias)

Status Unknown - Bruna Ferreira

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates: 

• Ferreira was released on a $1,500 bail, which is the lowest amount allowed by law. She will be required to attend mandatory ICE check-ins periodically.
• Ferreira was arrested by ICE on Nov. 12.

Immigration Status: Ferreira was brought to the US as a child and enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, but was unable to renew her status a few years ago due to the first Trump administration's attempts to end the program. She is currently in the process of acquiring a green card.

Reason for Detention: A DHS spokesperson said Ferreira was arrested for battery and called her a "criminal illegal alien."

Opposition: Ferreira's attorneys have called her detainment an "unconstitutional merry-go-round." DHS has not produced records of a battery arrest, which Ferreira's attorneys deny. Ferreira and her attorneys have spoken out against the White House and Karoline Leavitt's characterizations of her, calling it "disgusting" that they alleged that she hasn't lived with her son in years. The Guardian (Left bias) wrote that Ferreira said she "takes her son to Dave & Buster’s... ferries him to school, cheers at sports games; and fills his bedroom with 'everything a young boy needs.'"

More News Coverage: 

Mother of Karoline Leavitt’s nephew rejects White House portrayal of her after ICE arrest (The Guardian, Left bias)

Woman with family ties to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released from ICE custody (CNN, Lean Left bias)

Unauthorized/Green Card Applicant - Chanidaphon Sopimpa

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Sopimpa was detained by ICE at her final Green Card interview in November. She has been held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center since then.

Immigration Status: Sopimpa entered the US legally from Thailand with a visa, but overstayed that visa. She is married to a US citizen and has been in the process of receiving a Green Card since getting married in 2024. 

Reason for Detention: DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin has said, "ICE enforces immigration law against all unlawfully present aliens – criminal history is not a prerequisite for enforcement." She also told Newsweek (Center bias) that "applying for a green card 'does not confer legal status.'"

Opposition: Sopimpa's husband, Samuel Shasteen, a retired Marine veteran of 20 years, said, "I kind of feel betrayed, to be honest. We do everything that we can to protect and serve our country. And then they betray us by treating us like we've never done anything." Shasteen's attorney said, "Any other time in U.S. history, it would have been approved. It really is just a straightforward case."

More News Coverage: 

ICE Detains Marine Veteran’s Wife at Green Card Interview—’Betrayed’ (Newsweek, Center bias)

‘I kind of feel betrayed': ICE arrests military spouses at San Diego green card interviews (NBC 7 San Diego, Lean Left bias)

Legal Permanent Resident - Melissa Tran

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Tran arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, November 19.
• Tran was taken into ICE custody in May and held until October, when a judge ruled that the government had held her unnecessarily. 

Immigration Status: Tran was a legal permanent resident who arrived in the US as a child refugee in the early 1990s. In 2004 a judge issued an order of removal as a result of a charge she received as a teenager for stealing checks from her employer. However, Vietnam at the time did not repatriate immigrants who left the country before 1995 and refused to accept her return. Tran has attended regularly immigration check-ins for more than 20 years since then.

Reason for Deportation: "ICE arrested Mong Tuyen Thi Tran, a criminal illegal alien from Vietnam, has a rap sheet including forgery, larceny, fraud, and writing fraudulent checks," said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.

Opposition: Tran's husband, a US citizen, said, "It's unfair for Melissa. Unfair for my family. She's not a criminal. She's not a murderer. She is a good person." Tran has said, "I know what I did was wrong, and I take responsibility for that. 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."

More News Coverage: 

Green Card Holder Deported Over Crimes She Committed as Teenager (Newsweek, Center bias)

Maryland mother shares message after her deportation to Vietnam: "My heart aches" (CBS News, Lean Left bias)

Status Unknown - Sami Hamdi

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Hamdi was released from custody and returned to the UK on November 13.
• Sami Hamdi's wife has raised concerns about his health in ICE custody, claiming he was experiencing "excruciating pain" and had to wait hours to receive medical attention.
• ICE detained British pro-Palestinian commentator Sami Hamdi over his open support for Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack against Israel.

Immigration Status: Hamdi was in the US on a visitor visa, but the visa was revoked by the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs on Oct. 24, according to DHS spokesperson Trisha McLaughlin.

Reason for Detention: The State Department wrote on X, "We've said it before, we'll say it again: The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans." According to BBC (Center bias), DHS "did not answer BBC's request for evidence of Hamdi's alleged support of terrorism."

Opposition:  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, said, "Our nation must stop abducting critics of the Israeli government at the behest of unhinged Israel First bigots. This is an Israel First policy, not an America First policy, and it must end." 

More News Coverage: 

British journalist Sami Hamdi detained by US authorities (BBC, Center bias)

Status Unknown - Subramanyam Vedam

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• A federal immigration judge denied Vedam's request for bond on Feb. 17.
• The deportation of Subramanyam Vedam has been halted by two different US courts.
• ICE detained Subramanyam Vedam as he exited the Huntingdon State Correctional Institution, where he wrongfully served 43 years for a conviction he was exonerated from in August.

Immigration Status: Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam was brought to the US by his parents when he was 9 months old. It is unclear what his legal status was at the time. When Vedam was convicted of murder, he received a deportation order that was not fulfilled due to him serving a life sentence. He has since been exonerated of that conviction due to previously undisclosed evidence. The deportation was also tied to a drug conviction when Vedam was 19.

Reason for Detention: In an email obtained by the Miami Herald (Lean Left), ICE said, "Pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who have exhausted all avenues of immigration relief and possess standing removal orders are priorities for enforcement. ERO (Enforcement and Removal Operations) notes that Mr. Vedam, a career criminal with a rap sheet dating back to 1980, is also a convicted controlled substance trafficker. Mr. Vedam will be held in ICE custody while the agency arranges for his removal in accordance with all applicable laws and due-process requirements."

Opposition: A spokesperson for Vedam's family said, "They’re emotionally reeling from the fact that he could be sent to a country he doesn’t know. There’s some ancestry in India where he might have some nominal relations, but his entire family — all of his family relationships — are here and in Canada.” His niece said, "It’s been a very long journey toward exonerating my uncle. He spent the last 44 years incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, and we’ve been fighting and supporting him this whole time."

More News Coverage: 

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him (Miami Herald, Lean Left bias)

Unauthorized - Milton Guamarrigra

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Guamarrigra was deported to Ecuador.
• Guamarrigra spoke out in early October about the conditions in ICE detention centers, saying has not eaten enough and been denied water and restroom access.
• On July 29, Guamarrigra was arrested outside his home in Port Chester, New York. He is being held at an ICE detention center in Michigan.

Immigration Status: Guamarrigra has been in the US for at least 22 years, although CNN (Lean Left bias) was not able to confirm a specific date for his immigration from Ecuador to the US. He was ordered to leave the US 19 years ago and appealed the order, though Guamarrigra's attorney says he was not aware that the appeal had been dismissed. He has a pending green card application that his daughter filed for him.

Reason for Detention: DHS posted on X, "Milton Geovanny Guamarrigra-Loja is a criminal illegal alien from Ecuador. His criminal history includes THREE DWIs. This serial drunk driver is a public safety threat to innocent Americans." 

Opposition: Guamarrigra's attorney disputed the post from DHS, as court records reflect that he only has two DWI arrests, with the most recent being in 2005. The mayor of Port Chester, Luis Marino, wrote a letter to the federal government in support of Guamarrigra. Marino highlighted his years-long volunteer service to the fire department, saying, "He was active, and he was there when we needed him. He got along with everyone."

More News Coverage: 

A volunteer firefighter, a beloved pastor, a prominent journalist: These are the community pillars being detained by ICE (CNN, Lean Left bias)

Feds: Port Chester dad nabbed for deportation due to past DWI charges, 2006 order (Lohud, unrated)

Unauthorized - Jon Luke Evans

Self-deported

Latest Updates: 

• On July 18, ICE said that Evans agreed to voluntarily depart the country rather than receive a deportation order.
• Evans was held in the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island before being transferred to an ICE facility in Massachusetts.
• On July 25, Evans was arrested while attempting to purchase a firearm.

Immigration Status: Jon Luke Evans entered the country legally in September 2023 on a visa. Evans was employed by the Old Orchard Beach Police Department in Maine, which reportedly verified his work eligibility through the DHS E-Verify program. ICE alleged that Evans overstayed his visa and therefore was in the country without authorization.

Reason for Detention: Evans was arrested for attempting to purchase a firearm, which was unlawful due to the fact that reserve officers are not allowed to bring department-issued firearms home, or allowed to purchase or carry any other firearms. ICE ERO Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde said, "Jon Luke Evans not only broke U.S. immigration law, but he also illegally attempted to purchase a firearm. Shockingly, Evans was employed as a local law enforcement officer."

Opposition: Old Orchard Beach Police Chief Elise Chard defended the department's hiring processes, according to Newsweek (Center bias), and emphasized the fact that federal officials confirmed his work eligibility before he became employed.

More News Coverage: 

Maine Police Officer Agrees to Leave US After ICE Arrest (Newsweek, Center bias)

Maine police officer arrested by ICE agrees to leave the country (The Independent, Lean Left bias)

Illegal migrant caught working as police officer in Maine agrees to voluntarily self-deport (New York Post, Lean Right bias)

Unauthorized - Kelly Yu

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates: 

• Yu was released from ICE custody after 8 and a half months. She is required to wear an ankle tracking monitor and have regular court check ins until further developments with her authorization to remain in the US.
• Yu was detained by ICE in May following a routine immigration check-in. She remains in ICE custody.

Immigration Status: Yu entered the US from China without authorization in 2004. She was seeking asylum due to China's "one child" policy at the time. She is married to a US citizen and the mother of a college-age daughter Zita Yu, who is also an American citizen.

Reason for Detention: Yu's asylum case was denied and she received a removal order from a judge in 2004. Her appeals have since been denied, with her most recent appeal being rejected in 2016.

Opposition: Chair of the GOP Legislative District 29 in Arizona Lisa Everett is working with a Democratic activist in Arizona to call for Yu's release. Everett said, "Kelly is everything we want in an immigrant. She is well loved in her community she gives back to." Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) said, "Donald Trump is going after people like Kelly Yu and Maria Pelaez who are mothers, grandmothers, members of our communities, instead of using ICE resources to go after criminals."

More News Coverage: 

ICE Detains Restaurant Owner Mom for Over Two Months After 21 Years in US (Newsweek, Center bias)

Visitor Visa* - Roland Beainy

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update: 

• All Trump Burger locations have shut down as Beainy remains in ICE custody.
• Trump Burger, the Donald-Trump themed burger chain of which Roland Beainy is the partial owner, appears to have closed while details of Beainy’s arrest are sorted out.
• Roland Beainy, co-owner of the Texas chain "Trump Burger," was arrested and faces potential deportation for allegedly overstaying his visa. His immigration court hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.

Immigration Status: Beainy entered the US in 2019 on a visitor visa but stayed past his required departure date of February 2024, according to ICE. Newsweek (Center bias) wrote, "Reports had suggested he had applied for legal status in 2021 via the woman claiming to be his wife."

Reason for Detention: DHS released a statement, saying, "The Department of Homeland Security has zero tolerance for immigration fraud, and this individual's claims are baseless. USCIS revoked the petition after evidence, including admissions from the petitioner's own family, exposed his marriage as a sham designed to game the system." An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek, "Under the current administration, ICE is committed to restore integrity to our nation's immigration system by holding all individuals accountable who illegally enter the country or overstay the terms of their admission. This is true regardless of what restaurant you own or political beliefs you might have."

Opposition: Beainy has not commented on the story.

More News Coverage:

New Details Emerge After ICE Arrest Trump Burger Co-Owner (Newsweek, Center bias)

Was the owner of Trump Burger deported? What we know about the Texas chain (USA Today, Lean Left bias)

Green Card Applicant/Humanitarian Parole - Zia

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update: 

• Zia was released from custody on bail in mid-October.
• A judge issued a temporary stay which prevents Zia from being deported immediately, though he remains in government custody.
• Zia was arrested by armed, masked immigration agents after an appointment related to his green card application.

Immigration Status: Zia was approved for humanitarian parole into the US in 2024 because of direct threats against his life from the Afghan Taliban government. He was in the process of applying for a green card through a program that protects people who worked for US forces in other countries. Zia worked with the US military during the war in Afghanistan.

Reason for Detention: DHS said that Zia is under investigation for a “serious criminal allegation,” but did not provide further details. Zia's attorney said he has no criminal history and has no understanding of what DHS is referring to.

Opposition: The founder of #AfghanEvac said his group and other veterans organizations were working for the release of Zia and other detained Afghans. "It’s about whether this country honors its word to those who risk everything," he said.

More News Coverage:

Masked ICE agents detain former Afghan interpreter who helped U.S. military (NBC, Lean Left bias)

Visa/Permit to Work (Status Unknown) - Karem Tadros

Released

Latest Update: 

• Karem Tadros was released from ICE custody.
• Sudan and Libya rejected Tadros's case. There remains a possibility of deporting Tadros to Uzbekistan.
• A US district judge ruled that because Tadros cannot be deported to his home country of Egypt, "ICE may identify a third country within thirty to sixty days of this order to which the Petitioner may be removed."

Immigration Status: Tadros was brought to the US in 1989 when he was 3 or 4 years old, according to Tadros and his attorney. His family members all obtained citizenship, though his application was halted in 2006 due to a drug-related conviction. He currently holds a valid work permit that is set to be renewed in August.

Reason for Detention: Federal immigration officers came to Tadros's home saying they had a warrant for his arrest and that there were "administrative problem in their office that needs to be taken care of." DHS has not specifically commented on his case, though Trisha McLaughlin previously told Newsweek "The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws—something the previous administration failed to do. Those who violate these laws will be processed, detained and removed as required."

Opposition: At Tadros's legal proceedings in 2009, a federal judge found that Tadros could not be deported to Egypt, as he was at risk of persecution for being Christian and not knowing the language. On June 16, a U.S. District Judge ordering his release, finding it unlawful for the government to keep Tadros detained.

More News Coverage:

Man Who Came to US as Young Child Faces Deportation After Over 30 Years (Newsweek, Center bias)

Asylum Seeker - Hilary Rivers

Released

Latest Update: 

• Hilary Rivers was released from ICE custody and granted asylum in the US.
• Rivers was detained after his asylum hearing at a San Fransisco court on June 26. He is being held at an ICE detention center in Bakersfield, California.

Immigration Status: Rivers immigrated to the US from Guatemala due to “traumatic and severe” persecution for being gay. His asylum application is pending. The outlet Them (Lean Left bias) noted that Hilary Rivers is this man's stage name as a drag performer and that his legal name is not being reported due to confidentiality.

Reason for Detention: Rivers was arrested after his asylum hearing. A government lawyer moved to dismiss the case, though the judge denied that motion. 

Opposition: San Fransisco advocacy groups such as SF Pride and the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative have lobbied for his release. The director of a nonprofit that hosted an event in support of Rivers said Rivers's "primary concern is for people to understand that he was doing things following the law and that he was not a criminal."

More News Coverage:

S.F. drag performer detained by ICE after asylum hearing (San Fransisco Chronicle, Left bias)

A Drag Queen Was Detained by ICE in San Francisco. Activists Are Fighting to Get Her Back (Them, Lean Left bias)

Tourist Visa* - Julio César Chávez Jr.

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Update: 

• Chavez was released from prison in Mexico and is awaiting trial for alleged involvement in cartels and alleged arms trafficking.
• Chavez was deported to Mexico and is reportedly being held in a maximum security prison in the state of Senora.
• On July 22, Chavez's lawyer Michael Goldstein told an entertainment commentator, "My understanding is that he remains in ICE custody in Texas."
• Chavez Jr. missed a court appointment on July 7 for a case unrelated to the ICE arrest for reasons unknown to his lawyer, who has not been able to locate Chavez Jr. "We have no idea. We have no information. Unfortunately," his lawyer told USA TODAY (Lean Left bias).
• As of July 5, Chavez Jr.'s lawyer determined he was being kept in custody in Hidalgo, Texas.
• ICE detained Chavez Jr. on July 2, a few days after a high-profile boxing match against social media influencer Jake Paul. On July 3, DHS stated it was in the process of deporting him due to alleged ties to drug cartels.

Immigration Status: Chávez Jr. entered the US on a tourist visa in August of 2023. The visa expired in February 2024, but he applied for permanent residency in April 2024 based on his marriage to a US citizen. On June 27, the government determined he was in the country illegally and could be removed.

Reason for Detention: A DHS statement claims Chavez Jr. lied on his immigration application and that he has warrants for his arrest in Mexico for alleged involvement in “organized crime and trafficking firearms, ammunition, and explosives." DHS also alleges that his spouse is connected to the Sinaloa drug cartel.

Opposition: His father, famous Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, said “It’s complicated; there’s a lot of talk, but we’re calm because we know my son’s innocence... My son will be anything you want, anything, but he is not a criminal and less everything he’s being accused of.”

More News Coverage:

Chávez Jr. misses court for case unrelated to ICE arrest, lawyer says status unknown (USA Today, Lean Left bias)

Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.’s location unknown as boxer misses court date unrelated to ICE arrest (New York Post, Lean Right bias)

Mexican boxer Julio César Chávez Jr. detained by ICE and on track to be deported just days after fighting Jake Paul (CNN, Lean Left bias)

Green Card Holder - Victor Avila

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Update: Avila is being held in a detention center in Bakersfield, California. His deportation hearing is scheduled for June 15. 

Immigration Status: Avila immigrated to the US legally in 1967 and has held a Green Card for the past 58 years.

Reason for Detention: Avila was arrested on his return home from Asia, where he had been visiting his son, who serves in the US Air Force. DHS has not released a statement on his detention or deportation trial. Avila's daughter, Carina Mejia, said in 2009 he was charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and drug possession. He paid a fine and served a few months in prison at the time. 

Opposition: "Two misdemeanors. Served all his time, paid all he had to pay. Since then, he has been a good man and a hard worker. Hasn't gotten into trouble, not one time. He's dedicated himself to his family... I want my dad back. I want my dad home," his daughter said.

More News Coverage:

Green Card Holder For 58 Years Faces Deportation (Newsweek, Center Bias)

ICE detains green card holder on return from Japan where he was visiting his Air Force member son (The Independent, Lean Left bias)

Pending Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) - Sayed Naser

Released

Latest Update: 

• Naser was released from custody at the end of September.
• Naser was placed into expedited removal.
• Naser was arrested and taken into federal custody on June 12. 

Immigration Status: Naser was legally paroled into the US in 2024 and entered using the CBP One app through a legal port of entry. He had a pending SIV application, as Naser reportedly worked with the US military in Afghanistan for three years and feared he would be tortured and killed if he returned to his country. Many Afghans who worked with the US military during the 20 years it remained in Afghanistan have been accepted into the US on Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and SIVs; however, the Trump administration has removed TPS for some migrants.

Reason for Detention: Naser was arrested at his asylum hearing at an immigration court in San Diego. DHS released a statement saying, "On June 12, ICE officers arrested Sayed Naser Noori, an Afghan national. He entered the U.S. unvetted via the CBP One app under the previous administration in 2024. There is nothing in his immigration records indicating that he assisted the U.S. government in any capacity. All of his claims will be heard by a judge. Any Afghan who fears persecution is able to request asylum."

Opposition: Naser wrote in his declaration to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, "While collaborating with U.S. forces, I faced numerous threats and attacks. Several times, I narrowly escaped harm, but over seven of our vehicles were burned by the Taliban... To them, anyone or any company working with foreign forces is considered an infidel and a legitimate target for killing. For this reason, after the fall [of the] government, it became impossible for us to live in Afghanistan. We had to leave the country by any means necessary." The group Unite for Veterans denounced Naser's detainment, saying, "Our Afghan allies protected us when we needed them... Now it is our turn to look after them."

More News Coverage:

Man Who Says He Helped US Soldiers in Afghanistan Now in ICE Detention (Newsweek, Center bias)

Green Card Holder - Mahmoud Khalil

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates:

• New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani posted a photo with Mahmoud Khalil from inside Gracie Mansion on March 9.
• At his meeting with President Donald Trump, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for help with Mahmoud Khalil's deportation case, along with a few other students that were targeted by federal authorities.
• An immigration judge has ordered that Mahmoud Khalil, a leader in Columbia University's pro-Palestinian protests and a legal U.S. resident, be deported to Syria or Algeria.
• Border czar Tom Homan told Newsmax (Right bias) he envisions only one outcome for Mahmoud Khalil: "We detain him and deport him, but regardless, he will be deported."
• A federal judge blocked the immediate deportation of Mahmoud Khalil.
• Mahmoud Khalil filed a $20 million claim against the Trump administration for his alleged false imprisonment and other damages.
• Khalil said in an interview that "Columbia basically failed to protect" him.
• Khalil gave an interview to NPR's "Morning Edition" (Lean Left bias) describing the conditions of the ICE detainment facility he was kept in, among other subjects.
• Khalil spoke at Columbia University protest criticizing Israel's actions in Palestine, calling the protest the beginning of a "longer fight towards justice."
• A federal judge ruled Mahmoud Khalil must be released on bail.
• The ACLU released footage of Mahmoud Khalil's arrest which his attorneys argued "directly contradicts" the government's claim that he attempted to flee arrest.
• Khalil requested he be transferred from Louisiana to a detainment center in New Jersey to be closer to his family.
• A federal judge ruled on June 13 that Mahmoud Khalil can remain in custody because of allegations that he lied on his green card application.
• A federal judge ruled that the government must release Mahmoud Khalil.
• Khalil filed dozens of pieces of evidence and statements detailing the "irreparable harm" he faces in the Louisiana ICE detention center.
• U.S. District Judge Michael Farbiarz ruled on May 28 that the Trump administration's bid to deport Khalil is likely unconstitutional.
• New footage was release of the minutes before Mahmoud Khalil's arrest.
• Days before being dissolved, the DHS Civil Rights Office opened an investigation into Mahmoud Khalil's arrest.
• A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to provide the legal basis for its attempt to deport Mahmoud Khalil on May 7.
• New Jersey Federal Judge Michael Fabiarz decided on April 29 to retain jurisdiction over the case, allowing Khalil's challenge to his detention to move forward.
• Khalil is currently detained in Louisiana. On April 17, he wrote an op-ed for Washington Post (Lean Left bias), saying his detainment showed how "the most basic human instinct, to protest shameless massacre, is being repressed by obscure laws, racist propaganda and a state terrified of an awakened public." On April 12, an immigration judge ruled that Khalil can be deported. 

Immigration Status: Khalil has a green card, making him a legal US resident.

Reason for Deportation: Khalil played a key role in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized as antisemetic. Government officials have accused Khalil of supporting Hamas terrorism. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, citizen deportation is legal if there is “reasonable ground to believe [an immigrant] would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the US.

Opposition: Those against Khalil’s deportation argue that his involvement in protests is protected speech and deporting someone based solely on their political views is illegal. They argue the government lacks evidence of any connections to terrorist organizations and attacks on Palestinian speech are based in political retribution. 

More News Coverage:

Mahmoud Khalil details psychological pain and reputational harm in new legal filings: ‘Efforts to erase my humanity’ (The Independent, Lean Left)

Congressional delegation visits grad student, PhD student held in ICE detention (Source: The Hill, Center bias)

US Immigration Judge Rules Columbia University Graduate Mahmoud Khalil Can Be Deported

Mahmoud Khalil Calls Himself a 'Political Prisoner' In Letter From Detention Center

Pro-Palestinian Activists Occupy Trump Tower Lobby in Protest of Mahmoud Khalil Arrest

Visa/Permit to Work (Status Unknown) - Juan Vita Leite Pinto

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Update: Vita Leite Pinto has been in ICE custody at the Eloy Detention Center in Arizona since Memorial Day weekend.

Immigration Status: Vita Leite Pinto began the process of applying for citizenship when he came to the US on a visitor Visa four years ago. He and his partner, US citizen Ricardo Dominguez, have since decided to get married and have begun the process to get Vita Leite Pinto a green card. Vita Leite Pinto was awaiting his first interview, which had already been scheduled, when he was detained. His partner reported that he does not have a criminal record.

Reason for Detention: Vita Leite Pinto was stopped by ICE agents while sightseeing at the Grand Canyon over Memorial Day Weekend. He was told the Florida ID he presented was insufficient and was detained.

Opposition: Dominguez, Vita Leite Pinto's partner, said "He doesn't like being in there. He wants to work. He enjoys work. He enjoys his job, and being out, getting to know this country...He just wanted to go back to his job and working on us getting married."

More News Coverage:

Man in Green Card Process Detained by ICE at Grand Canyon—Boyfriend (Newsweek, Center bias)

Visa/Permit to Work (Status Unknown) - Mario Guevara

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Update:

• Guevara was reportedly deported to El Salvador on October 3.
• Guevara has been moved to solitary confinement in an ICE detention center near the border of Florida.
• Guevara remains in ICE custody nearly a month after his arrest despite being granted bond.
• All charges, which included unlawful assembly, obstruction of a law enforcement officer, and being a pedestrian on or along the roadway, against Guevara have been dropped.
• Guevara was transferred to ICE custody on June 18.
• Guevara was livestreaming the protest on June 14 and captured his own arrest on video. He announced to the arresting officers that he was a member of the media.

Immigration Status: Guevara reportedly entered the US on a tourist visa in 2004 after receiving death threats for his political journalism in El Salvador. He is not a legal permanent resident of the US, but his attorney said he had a permit to remain and work in the US.

Reason for Detention: Guevara was arrested at a “No Kings” protest outside Atlanta, Georgia for alleged obstruction of officers and unlawful assembly. Though a state judge granted Guevara release without bail, ICE requested he remain in custody because of his immigration status.

Opposition: Guevara's attorney, Giovanni Diaz, said, “He's been doing this type of work for 20-plus years, and now he gets detained. It's concerning. He's a member of the press. And he doesn't seem to be committing any crime.” Katherine Jacobsen, the program coordinator overseeing the US for the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the request to extend his detention “could lead to Guevara's deportation” and “is a crude form of censorship.”

More News Coverage:

Who Is Mario Guevara? Immigrant Reporter Facing Possible Deportation (Newsweek, Center bias)

Salvadoran journalist arrested while streaming a ‘No Kings’ protest could face deportation (CNN, Lean Left bias)

Unauthorized* - Kilmar Abrego García

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates:

•  
• US District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the immediate release of Kilmar Abrego García from federal immigration detention on Dec 11.
• The government has moved to dissolve Kilmar Abrego Garcia's removal ban in order to deport him to Liberia.
• An official from Costa Rica said the country is willing to accept Abrego Garcia, contradicting statements the US government made to a federal judge the week of November 21.
• The government asked a federal judge to dissolve Abrego Garcia's deportation block in order to deport him to Liberia.
• Abrego Garcia will have hearings on December 8-9 for the human smuggling case brought against him in Tennessee.
• Three different African countries have denied the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to their territories. A federal judge is likely to order Garcia’s release if the government cannot provide deportation plans soon.
• Officials from the African nation of Eswatini denied the Trump administration's plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to their country, saying "The Government of Eswatini has not received any communication regarding this person."
• The Trump administration has moved to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the tiny southern African nation of Eswatini.
• On August 25, Kilmar Abrego Garcia filed a motion to re-open his asylum application. He stated that he fears torture and persecution in Ugana, where DHS announced potential intentions to deport him.
• ICE officials arrested Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Monday, during a check-in at an ICE office in Maryland. Though DHS officials announced plans to begin Abrego Garcia’s deportation to Uganda, US District Judge Paula Xinis ruled on Monday that Abrego Garcia will remain in the US until the legality of his deportation is settled
• Abrego Garcia was released on August 22 from the Tennessee jail where he was being held. He reuinited with his family in Maryland after 160 days of separation.
• A federal judge instructed the Trump administration to moderate their comments about Kilmar Abrego Garcia in order to ensure he receives a fair trial.
• A Justice Department attorney said the US would initiate deportation proceedings against Kilmar Abrego Garcia if he is released before his trial.
• Abrego Garcia said he was physically and psychologically tortured in the El Salvador mega-prison known as CECOT.
• A key witness in the case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia agreed to cooperate with the government on the case in exchange for protection against his own deportation. The witness, Jose Ramon Hernandez Reyes, had been convicted of smuggling migrants, illegally re-entering the US after being deported, and deadly conduct.
• Abrego Garcia's attorneys asked the judge to delay his release out of concern that ICE will attempt to deport him before his trial.
• A federal judge ruled Kilmar Abrego Garcia is eligible for release as he awaits trial, saying the government "failed" to prove that he is a danger to society warranting continued detainment.
• The Justice Department argued that Garcia's lawsuit against the government must be dismissed, as he was returned to the US and there is no longer an ongoing controversy.
• At his arraignment in Tennessee on June 13, Kilmar Abrego Garcia plead not guilty to charges of illegally ferrying undocumented immigrants within the US.
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia is scheduled to appear in court in Nashville on June 13 for a formal arraignment of his charges.
• Abrego Garcia will be returned to the US to face criminal charges of conspiracy to "unlawfully transport illegal aliens for financial gain and unlawful transportation of illegal aliens for financial gain." He allegedly helped transport thousands of migrants from Central America into the US illegally over several years.
• A federal judge ordered the release of some documents pertaining to Abrego Garcia's case, though the documents revealed little new information.
• Abrego Garcia's lawyers filed an opposition to the government's motion to dismiss his case. The government has two weeks to respond to this opposition before the judge makes a final decision.

Immigration Status: Abrego Garcia was a temporary protected US resident. He arrived in the US illegally in 2011 as a 16-year-old. In 2019, an immigration judge granted him "withholding of removal" status over purported threats to his life from gang violence in El Salvador. The ruling barred the government from sending Abrego Garcia to El Salvador specifically, but technically allowed for him to be deported to a different country.

Reason for Deportation: Trump administration officials said Abrego Garcia was sent to an El Salvadorian prison due to an “administrative error,” but continue to describe him as a member of the MS-13 gang. “This was just one of those examples of an individual that is a MS-13 gang member, multiple charges and encounters with the individuals here, trafficking in his background, was found with other MS-13 gang members—very dangerous person, and what the liberal left and fake news are doing to turn him into a media darling is sickening,” said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. 

Opposition: Some members of Abrego Garcia’s family contend that he has no criminal record and that there’s no evidence of him being gang-affiliated. 

More News Coverage:

Trove of documents in alleged MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s high-profile deportation case released (New York Post, Lean Right)

Trump administration formally invokes state secrets privilege in Abrego Garcia case (Source: The Hill, Center)

Footage Reveals Kilmar Abrego Garcia Was Stopped Under Suspicion of Human Trafficking

Kilmar Abrego Garcia accused of being gang-banger in 2018 court docs — in latest claim of MS-13 affiliation (Source: New York Post, Lean Right)

Trump skewed the facts about Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, MS-13 gang and deportation (Source: Politifact, Lean Left)

Trump Admin Releases Documents on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s 2019 Arrest, Domestic Abuse Allegations

Common Ground: Many Call for Abrego Garcia's Return From El Salvador

Visa (Status Unknown) - Family of Mohamed Soliman

Detained in the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• A federal judge ended the order blocking the deportation of the family of Mohamed Soliman because the family is in regular, not expedited, deportation proceedings.
• US District Court Judge Orlando Garcia extended the order prohibiting the deportation of Soliman's family by 14 days.
• A judge transferred the deportation case against the family of Mohamed Soliman, the alleged attacker in the Colorado bombing, to the western district of Texas.
• A judge issued an order stopping the deportation of the family of Mohamed Soliman, the alleged attacker in the Colorado bombing.
• Soliman's wife and five children were taken into custody by ICE and DHS on June 3. The White House posted on X, "Six One-Way Tickets for Mohamed’s Wife and Five Kids. Final Boarding Call Coming Soon."

Immigration Status: DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said the State Department revoked the visas of all six members of Soliman's immediate family. Mohamed Soliman was in the US without authorization after overstaying a tourist visa.

Reason for Detention: State Secretary Marco Rubio wrote on X, "In light of yesterday’s horrific attack, all terrorists, their family members, and terrorist sympathizers here on a visa should know that under the Trump Administration we will find you, revoke your visa, and deport you." DHS is investigating Soliman's family's knowledge about the attack, according to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

More News Coverage:

Family of Boulder firebombing suspect taken into federal custody, visas revoked (Fox News, Right bias)

Unauthorized* - Maurilio Amizael Ambrocio Mendez

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Ambrocio was deported to Guatemala.
• Ambrocio Mendez was detained at an ICE office in Tampa, Florida on April 17 while attending an immigration check-in, which he had been attending annually for the past 12 years.

Immigration Status: According to Newsweek (Center bias), Ambrocio Mendez had a court-issued 'stay of removal,' which is "a form of supervision allowing him to remain in the country despite a deportation order."

Reason for Detention: DHS said that Ambrocio Mendez was previously convicted of driving without a license and deported after he had re-entered the US without authorization.

Opposition: "It's truly horrible. These people are going to their appointments to make it right. If they were the 'real criminals' Trump is supposedly deporting, they wouldn't be representing themselves to a judge," his daughter Ashley Ambrocio told Newsweek. "My father's lawyer told my dad the chance was high he could be detained, but my father decided to go because he knew he was doing the right thing and obeying."

More News Coverage:

Evangelical pastor detained by ICE despite stay of removal, no criminal record (Source: Christian Post, Lean Right bias)

Student Visa - Kseniia Petrova

Released on bail/bond

Latest Updates:

• Petrova was indicted on additional charges two weeks after she was released on bail. The grand jury indicted her on charges of concealing a material fact, false statements, and smuggling goods into the country.
• Kseniia Petrova was released on bail on June 12 by a Boston magistrate judge.
• On May 28, a federal judge granted bail for Petrova, but she remains in custody.
• A federal judge ordered Petrova to be transferred from a detention center in Louisiana to Massachusetts, where she was charged.
• U.S. District Court Judge Christina Reiss is scheduled to hear Petrova's case on May 14.
• Petrova claims she "never provided false information to any government official” and instead her statements to officials were misunderstood and inaccurately reflected.

Immigration Status: Petrova held a J-1 scholar visa, which was canceled after her detention.

Reason for Detention: Petrova was detained in February 2025 at Boston's Logan Airport after reportedly failing to declare samples of frog embryos to be used in her scientific research. She is being held at an immigrant detainment center in Louisiana.

Opposition: “It appears to be part of a broader effort to create an unwelcoming and hostile environment for noncitizens,” her lawyer said. 

More News Coverage:

New images could change cancer diagnostics, but ICE detained the Harvard scientist who analyzes them (Source: NBC, Lean Left bias)

Unauthorized - O.C.G.

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates:

• O.C.G. was returned to the US on Wednesday and is expected to be taken into federal custody.
• A government filing reported on May 28 indicates the Trump administration granted O.C.G "Significant Public Benefit Parole," a form of parole that will allow him to re-enter the US. Justice Department officials have said they are securing a flight for O.C.G.
• The Department of Homeland Security told the court in March that O.C.G. said he was not afraid of returning to Mexico. In May, the DHS retracted this filing, saying it was an "error" and that they could not identify an officer who asked or heard an answer from O.C.G. on this matter.
• O.C.G was deported to Mexico where he was told he could apply for asylum while waiting in detention or return to Guatemala. He chose to return to Guatemala.
• At a hearing in February, a judge assured O.C.G. that he would not be deported to Mexico, where he reportedly was raped and held hostage prior to entering the US.
• Afte arrest, O.C.G. was granted a witholding of removal which protected him from being removed back to Guatemala, where he was from. His lawyers argued that he had faced multiple death threats in Guatemala due to his sexuality.
• O.C.G. reportedly entered the US without authorization in 2024. He was then arrested by Border Patrol.

Reason for Deportation: The Trump administration has not commented on their deportation.

Opposition: In a follow-up filing, O.C.G. wrote that he is “living in hiding, in constant panic and constant fear” in Guatemala. “I can’t be gay here,” he said in the filing, “which means I cannot be myself.” Judge Brian Murphy called this error troubling, writing that “the Court was given false information, upon which it relied, twice, to the detriment of a party at risk of serious and irreparable harm.”

More News Coverage:

Deported Guatemalan man back in U.S. after judge orders Trump administration to return him (NBC News, Lean Left bias)

The 10 Other Migrants Allegedly Wrongfully Deported by the Trump Administration (Wake Up to Politics, Center bias)

Trump administration working to return Guatemalan man deported to Mexico (The Hill, Center bias)

Asylum Seeker - Andry Hernandez Romero

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates: 

• Romero told NBC News (Lean Left bias) that CECOT prison staff sexually abused him and forced him to perform oral sex on another person, amongst other physical and psychological abuses.
• Romero, along with the other migrants being held in El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, was released back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and US permanent residents imprisoned in Venezuela.
• Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) donated to a fund demanding the release of Andry Hernandez Romero. On June 9, Torres and 51 other Democratic lawmakers signed a letter to State Secretary Marco Rubio demanding Romero's immediate release.
• Over 300 protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court on June 6 demanding the return of Andry Hernández Romero from CECOT.

Immigration Status: Hernandez Romero entered the US as an asylum-seeker with an appointment to seek protection in the US from persecution, according to his lawyer. On May 27, an immigration judge dismissed his asylum claim.

Reason for Deportation: Immigration officials deported Hernandez Romero and more than 100 other Venezuelans on the grounds that they're members of Tren de Aragua, a violent criminal gang.

Opposition: "He has a strong claim. He was detained at entry because ICE alleged his tattoos are gang related. They are absolutely not," his lawyer said. "He is a makeup artist who loves theater. He is a gay man. He is close to his family."

Some earlier reports referred to Romero as Andrys Cedeno-Gil.

More News Coverage:

Venezuelans describe being beaten, sexually assaulted and told to 'commit suicide' during El Salvador detention (NBC, Lean Left)

Immigration courts are dismissing cases of those sent to El Salvador, potentially cutting off their return (NBC, Lean Left)

Venezuelan Asylum Seeker Possibly Wrongfully Deported to El Salvadorian Prison

Unknown - Eight Migrants Deported to South Sudan

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates:

• The supreme court has allowed the deportation of the eight migrants deported to South Sudan to proceed after they have been held at a military base in Djibouti for weeks.
• On May 21, Judge Brian Murphy ruled that their removal violated his April order that migrants being deported must be given written notice of what country they are being deported to in a language they understand as well as meaningful opportunity to argue their case to an immigration judge if they fear persecution or torture in that country. Murphy ordered the Trump administration to give these migrants the opportunity to challenge their removal either in the US or Djibouti, where they were being kept at the time.
• On May 19, the US informed eight individuals they were being deported to South Sudan after previously telling them they would be removed to South Africa.

Reason for Deportation: All eight of the migrants deported to South Sudan have been convicted of crimes including murder, robbery, or sexual assault.

Opposition: Murphy wrote, "To be clear, the Court recognizes that the class members at issue here have criminal histories...But that does not change due process."

More News Coverage:

The 10 Other Migrants Allegedly Wrongfully Deported by the Trump Administration (Wake Up to Politics, Center bias)

Green Card Holder - Kasper Juul Eriksen

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update:

• Eriksen was reportedly released from ICE detention on bail in late August.
• Eriksen is currently being detained in an ICE facility in Louisiana.
• Attorneys met with Eriksen on May 15 in order to file a petition for his release.
• Eriksen was detained on April 15 during his citizenship appointment in Memphis, TN.

Immigration Status: Eriksen immigrated to the US legally in 2013 and married his wife Savannah Eriksen, a US citizen, in 2014. At the time of his arrest, Eriksen was attending an interview appointment in the final stage of obtaining his permanent US citizenship through naturalization.

Reason for Detainment: According to Eriksen's wife, Eriksen was detained because of a paperwork error from 2015. The Daily Beast (Left bias) reports he had no criminal record, including speeding tickets.

Opposition: Eriksen's wife, Savannah Eriksen, said in a statement, “What could have been corrected with paperwork has resulted in a month-long detention of my husband and a devastating situation for our children and myself, as well as my high-risk pregnancy."

More News Coverage:

ICE Imprisons Danish Dad of 4 at Citizenship Interview (The Daily Beast, Left bias)

‘A hard-working man in pursuit of the American Dream’: Danish man living in Mississippi detained by ICE at naturalization meeting (Mississippi Today, Center)

Student Visa - Badar Khan Suri

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update:

• A court settlement from August 5 will allow Khan Suri to resume work as other litigation about his case continues.
• A federal appeals court panel ruled Badar Khan Suri can remain free while fighting his deportation.
• Badar Khan Suri was released.
• A federal judge ordered Suri's immediate release, saying the government declined to provide evidence as to why he should be detained.
• On Wednesday, a federal judge in Virginia will weigh Khan Suri’s request to be released on bond.

Immigration Status: Khan Suri held a J-1 scholar visa that has since been revoked. He was arrested in March.

Reason for Detainment: His father-in-law is a former adviser to Hamas leadership.

Opposition: "By no stretch of imagination can Suri be associated with anything unlawful", one of his professors told BBC (Center bias).

More News Coverage:

Georgetown researcher released from immigration detention on federal judge's order (Source: NPR, Lean Left bias)

Federal judge rules Georgetown scholar's wrongful arrest case will stay in Virginia (Source: AJC, Lean Left bias)

When it comes to deportations, why are the media hiding the ball? (Source: Becket Adams, Right)

Student Visa - Rumeysa Öztürk

Released on bail/bond

Latest Update:

• Rümeysa Öztürk wrote about her experience in the ICE detention facility in Louisiana, where she was held for 45 days.

• On May 22, a federal judge will hear Ozturk's case claiming her First Amendment and due process rights were violated by her detainment.

• Öztürk returned to Massachusetts and said she'd continue legal action against the Trump administration.

• A federal judge in Vermont ruled Öztürk is to be released on bail immediately with no restrictions on travel, saying she is not at risk of harming the community or fleeing.

• On May 7, a federal appears court ordered ICE to return Rümeysa Öztürk to Vermont for hearings.

• On May 6, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments on whether a judge’s order to transfer Öztürk to Vermont should be granted or further delayed.

Immigration Status: Öztürk, a 30-year-old doctoral student from Turkey, held an F-1 visa, which allows foreign students to complete coursework in the US. Her visa has since been terminated.

Reason for Detainment: The administration says Öztürk engaged in activities “in support of Hamas.” In 2024, she co-wrote an op-ed for the Tufts University newspaper criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Opposition: "This was done to chill her speech and send a clear, chilling message to everyone watching: If you engage in speech that the administration disagrees with, you will be punished," one of her lawyers said.

More News Coverage:

Congressional delegation visits grad student, PhD student held in ICE detention (Source: The Hill, Center bias)

ICE-Detained Pro-Palestinian Tufts Student Must Be Moved to Vermont, Judge Rules (Source: Epoch Times, Lean Right)

Are Recent Deportations Targeted State Abductions or National Security Measures?

Tufts PhD Student Detained by DHS

Unauthorized* - Ricardo Jesus Prada Vasquez

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Update:

• Prada Vasquez, along with the other migrants being held in El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, was released back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and US permanent residents imprisoned in Venezuela.
• Prada was removed to the El Salvador prison Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo.
• According to the New York Times (Lean Left), Prada told a friend on March 15 that he was being housed in Texas with other detainees expected to be repatriated to Venezuela.
• On Feb, 27, a judge ordered him to be removed from the US.
• On Jan. 15, Prada attempted to re-enter the US from Canada after reportedly entered Canada by accident making a wrong turn while working his delivery job. He was then taken into custody.

Immigration Status: It’s unclear what his exact legal status in the US was; Prada reportedly entered the US through a port of entry using the CBP One app in November of 2024. He was released into the US under Biden administration policies.

Reason for Deportation: The Trump administration reports that Prada was a confirmed member of Tren De Aragua. The Department of Homeland Security website states that "Prada Vasquez was living and working in the U.S. illegally, he was a member of a criminal gang designated as a terrorist organization, and was deported with full compliance with American law."

Opposition: Prada's name does not appear on the list of 238 men who were deported to El Salvador in March, nor does he appear in photos or videos released by DHS. “Ricardo’s story by itself is incredibly tragic — and we don’t know how many Ricardos there are,” said Ben Levey, an attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center who has attempted to locate Prada.

More News Coverage:

An Immigrant Held in U.S. Custody ‘Simply Disappeared’ (Source: New York Times, Lean Left bias)

Unauthorized - Merwil Gutiérrez

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Update:

• Gutierrez, along with the other migrants being held in El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, was released back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and US permanent residents imprisoned in Venezuela.
• The Department of Homeland Security released Immigration and Customs Enforcement records of Gutiérrez's arrests, including criminal posession of a loaded firearm on school grounds. The administration also claims he is associated with Tren de Aragua, though they have not released records demonstrating this.
• The 19-year-old Venezuelan’s family is pleading for his transfer back to the US from El Salvador.

Immigration Status: It’s unclear what his exact legal status in the US was; Gutiérrez reportedly entered the US illegally in 2023 and was arrested by US Border Patrol agents. He was then released and awaiting his immigration hearing scheduled for February of 2027.

Reason for Deportation: The Trump administration hasn’t commented on Gutiérrez’s deportation. He was reportedly swept up in an ICE raid in March.

Opposition: "He's not Salvadoran, he's not a gang member, he's never been accused of a crime," said Wilmer Gutierrez, Merwil's father, when speaking about his son's transfer to a prison in El Salvador. "He doesn't even have a tattoo. He doesn't belong there." William Parra, an immigration attorney from Inmigración Al Día, told Newsweek: "Merwil was detained for hanging out with friends and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. ICE was not looking for him, nor is there any evidence whatsoever that Merwil was in any gang." 

More News Coverage:

ICE Agents Realize They Arrested Wrong Teen, Say 'Take Him Anyway' (Source: Newsweek, Center bias)

US Citizen - 2-year-old child "VML"

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Update:

• On May 10, the family voluntarily dismissed their lawsuit against the Trump administration.
• A federal judge expressed “strong suspicion” that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may have deported a 2-year-old US citizen without “meaningful process” on Friday. The child is referred to as "VML" in court documents.

Immigration Status: VML was born in the US and therefore is a US citizen.

Reason for Deportation: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the mother wanted to take her children with her when she was deported to Honduras. An opposition brief from the Department of Justice (DOJ) said VML was lawfully in her mother’s custody and the Constitution was not violated.

Opposition: “The Government contends that this is all okay because the mother wishes that the child be deported with her. But the Court doesn’t know that,” the judge wrote.

More News Coverage:

AllSides Headline Roundup: Judge Says 2-Year-Old US Citizen Possibly Deported Without ‘Meaningful Process’

Green Card Holder - Cliona Ward

Released

Latest Update: 

• On May 9, Ward was released after 17 days of detainment.
• Ward was sent to a detention facility in Tacoma, Washington, where she will undergo a hearing on May 7. She was reportedly detained over drug possession charges from 20 years ago.

Immigration Status: Ward has reportedly held a green card for 30 years, and moved to the US from Ireland at age 12.

Reason for Detainment: Ward’s criminal record reportedly includes six misdemeanors and felonies between 2003 and 2008, ranging from theft to drug possession. Her sister says the drug charges were expunged.

Opposition: “She’s terrified, she’s distraught, she’s scared, she’s worried about her son,” said her sister in an interview with a local news station. “She’s just trying to hold it together.”

More News Coverage:

ICE detains Irish woman residing in US over decades-old expunged conviction

Student Visa - Alireza Doroudi

Self-deported

Latest Update:

• On June 1, Doroudi self-deported to Iran.
• On May 9, outlets reported that Doroudi had decided to self-deport.

Immigration Status: Doroudi was in the US on a student visa, which has since been canceled.

Reason for Detainment: Following his arrest DHS said, “ICE HSI made this arrest in accordance with the State Department’s revocation of Doroudi’s student visa. This individual posed significant national security concerns.”

Opposition: Doroudi has no criminal record and has not participated in any anti-government protests. 

More News Coverage:

Iranian student in Alabama to self-deport despite withdrawal of initial charge behind his arrest (Source: Associated Press, Left)

Are Recent Deportations Targeted State Abductions or National Security Measures?

Unauthorized - Ángel Blanco Marin

Removed from the U.S.

Latest Updates:

• Marin, along with the other migrants being held in El Salvador's megaprison CECOT, was released back to Venezuela in exchange for the release of 10 Americans and US permanent residents imprisoned in Venezuela.
• Marin's father is calling for his release.
• On Feb. 24, Marin was arrested by ICE in New York City, and was deported to El Salvador soon after.

Immigration Status: Marin, who is originally from Venezuela, lacks formal authorization to be in the US. He reportedly crossed into the US via the southern border in 2022, turned himself into immigration authorities, and was released.

Reason for Detainment: Immigration officials haven't commented on Marin's deportation.

Opposition: “To this day, the father has no explanation for the detention of his son, whom he describes as a 'calm boy' who only wanted to sing, earn a little money, and eventually return to Venezuela," according to Documented (not rated).

Green Card Holder - Rui Murras

Released

Latest Updates:

• Murras was released from custody and all charges have been dropped.
• Murras is detained in Maine as his family calls for his release; there have been false reports of his release on bond.
• Murras was detained by ICE at the airport in late March after returning to the US from a vacation.

Immigration Status: Murras is a green card holder and legal US resident.

Reason for Detainment: In 2012, Murras was charged with distributing a Class D controlled substance and conspiracy to violate drug laws. Murras received a verbal warning, but both charges were dismissed. In 2017, Murras was charged with operating under the influence. The case was reportedly dismissed in 2018 after Murras completed an alcohol education program.

Opposition: “He is a legal resident with a valid green card,” Murras' sister-in-law said. “He traveled out of the country on vacation and was detained by Border Patrol on his return over an old record.”

Green Card Holder - Mohsen Mahdawi

Released

Latest Update:

• A federal judge terminated the removal proceedings against Mohsen Mahdawi due to a filing error on the part of the federal government.
• Mahdawi graduated from Columbia University on May 19, participating in the school's graduation ceremony.
• On April 30, Mahdawi was released per order by a federal judge in Vermont. On April 29, Mahdawi spoke out for the first time from detention: "While I still know deeply that this is a level of injustice that I am facing, I have faith. I have faith that justice will prevail."

Immigration Status: Mahdawi became a legal permanent US resident in 2015, according to a file from his court case. He was detained at a citizenship appointment.

Reason for Detainment: It’s suspected to be in connection with his pro-Palestine activism on Columbia University’s campus.

Opposition: “This is immoral, inhumane, and illegal,” three lawmakers from Vermont, where Mahdawi was arrested, said in a statement. “Mr. Mahdawi, a legal resident of the United States, must be afforded due process under the law and immediately released from detention.”

More News Coverage:

AllSides Headline Roundup: Detained Palestinian Student Activist Mohsen Mahdawi Released from Custody

A Palestinian student arrested at US citizenship interview will stay in detention for now, ahead of a hearing next week (Source: CNN, Lean Left)

“The War Must Stop”: Detained Palestinian Green Card Holder Mohsen Mahdawi Calls for End to Gaza War (Source: Democracy Now, Left bias)

Who Is Mohsen Mahdawi? Another Columbia Student Detained By Immigration Officials (Source: Forbes, Center)