ProPublica: Federal Agents Have Detained More Than 500 American Citizens in Trump's Immigration Crackdown
by Nicole Foy, Ruth Talbot and Cengiz Yar, ProPublica; Liliana Michelena and Bianca Fortis for ProPublica; and Mariam Elba and Kahlie Wray, ProPublica
This story was originally published by ProPublica.
The Trump administration says none of this is happening.
“DHS is NOT arresting U.S. citizens by mistake.” “There are no ‘indiscriminate’ stops.” Allegations of “racial profiling are disgusting, reckless and categorically FALSE.” “The pattern is NOT of law enforcement using force.” “ICE does not zip tie or restrain children.”
But that is precisely what is happening, and at a far larger scale than previously reported.
We know because ProPublica have once again done what the government hasn’t:
They have tallied and cataloged every case we can find of an immigration agent holding a citizen during the current administration.
How Did ProPublica Define “Detained”?
ProPublica cataloged all incidents we could find of citizens reportedly being held against their will by immigration officers for any amount of time. That includes Americans handcuffed, held at gunpoint or otherwise prevented from leaving an area. Courts consider someone detained if they aren’t free to leave. They tracked cases from January 2025 through September 2026.
Because they focused on the expanded presence of immigration agents in American communities, they restricted our count to warrantless arrests that took place outside of airports and away from the borders, where immigration agents have long had more authority. They also excluded cases of Americans who were arrested after a judicial warrant.
ProPublica did not include incidents where an agent shot, tackled or pepper-sprayed a citizen but didn’t detain them. We also did not include immigration protesters arrested by police who were only enforcing local laws. They did, however, include some cases involving police working with immigration agents.
More than 500 cases. That includes:
More than a hundred Americans held after agents questioned their citizenship. Nearly all were people of color.
At least 70 American children and teens detained, some of whom were handcuffed.
Of the more than 300 Americans we tracked as detained for allegedly assaulting or obstructing agents, we found fewer than half were actually charged in federal court, and many of those cases were dropped or dismissed.
At least 63 Americans detained while recording.
36 Americans held for at least a day without being able to contact a lawyer or their family.
Roughly a dozen citizens deported, mostly children.
Collectively, these cases show that as the administration has relentlessly pursued immigrants, federal agents have run roughshod over the constitutional rights of citizens too.
We’re showing you every case — the reality that the administration denies — along with the receipts.
Read the full report at this link. Please note: the story contains videos and descriptions of violent arrests. Readers can disable the videos.
Chicago: Stop The Attacks on Immigrants Protest 2025.
