A new investigative report by ProPublica has revealed that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents without their consent since President Donald Trump returned to office in January. The investigation examined all publicly available cases of U.S. citizens being held by immigration officers, uncovering a pattern of severe mistreatment and potential violations of civil rights.
The report states that Americans have been subjected to physical force, including being tackled, beaten, tased, and shot by immigration agents. Some were held outside in the rain wearing only their underwear, while at least three detained individuals were pregnant. One woman had her home door blown off during an incident involving Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Approximately two dozen Americans reported being held for more than a day without access to legal counsel or family members. These findings contradict statements made by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who asserted in a recent ruling that immigration officers would promptly release individuals found to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the country.
Video evidence from Los Angeles shows immigration officials conducting what appears to be large-scale, indiscriminate roundups of Latino individuals. Meanwhile, Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, leading Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, admitted in an interview that immigration enforcement decisions are influenced by how individuals appear, suggesting that white individuals would be less likely to be detained.
The report highlights explicit racial profiling, with over 50 U.S. citizens detained after agents questioned their citizenship, most of whom were Latino. While immigration officials are permitted to arrest citizens who obstruct operations or assault officers, the report found that many such cases lacked sufficient evidence, with charges often dismissed or never filed.
Among those detained were at least 20 children, including two with cancer, and four others held with their undocumented mothers for weeks without legal representation. Although these individuals were eventually released following the intervention of Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.), they remain separated from their mothers, who have not been accused of any crime.
In several instances, immigration agents ignored clear proof of citizenship. For example, an Alabama construction worker was tackled despite identifying himself as a citizen and presenting his REAL ID, which is only issued to U.S. citizens. Agents dismissed the document as fake and detained him for over an hour. He was later detained again, with two other workers with legal status also being held.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) described the report as “absolutely shocking,” emphasizing that ICE does not have the authority to detain U.S. citizens during immigration enforcement. She called for accountability for the Trump administration, accusing it of violating the rights of American citizens.
While the report focused on U.S. citizens, it also challenges the claim by Justice Kavanaugh that lawful immigrants are promptly released. There are documented cases of green-card holders and visa holders being detained without justification. For instance, Paramjit Singh, a green-card holder with serious health conditions, has been in ICE custody for over two months without receiving necessary medical care. Another green-card holder, Vicente Castillo Flores, was detained at a toll booth despite showing his work visa, with no explanation provided.
ProPublica noted that the government does not track how often U.S. citizens are detained, suggesting the actual number may be higher than reported. This investigation adds to a growing body of reports highlighting the lack of accountability and transparency within ICE and the broader immigration enforcement agenda.
Recent investigations have also uncovered alarming incidents, including the disappearance of over 1,000 detainees from Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention facility and three deaths in ICE custody within the past two weeks, bringing the annual total to 23—its highest level in 20 years.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) condemned the report as an “outrage,” calling on every Republican to answer for the administration’s alleged abuses of power. She emphasized the need to prevent such actions from being overlooked or excused.
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