Nineteen-year-old Jose Hermosillo, a U.S. citizen with intellectual disabilities, was mistakenly arrested by Customs and Border Protection in Arizona and detained for ten days. Despite providing proof of his citizenship, Hermosillo was initially charged with illegal entry after reportedly claiming to be a Mexican citizen and signing a sworn statement, actions his family attributes to his cognitive impairments. Following national attention and intervention from the Arizona Attorney General, the charges were dropped, and Hermosillo was released. The incident highlights concerns about the handling of individuals with intellectual disabilities within the immigration system.
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U.S. citizen and Michigan-based attorney Amir Makled was detained by federal immigration agents upon returning from a family vacation, despite presenting his U.S. citizenship documentation. Agents demanded access to his phone, citing no specific reason for the detention, which lasted over 90 minutes. Makled refused, believing the request was intended to intimidate him due to his representation of a student charged in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest. He believes the incident is a chilling effect targeting attorneys who represent politically active clients.
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Following a community outcry and protests, a mother and her three children—ages 9, 15, and 18—were released from ICE custody. The family was detained during a March 27th raid in Sackets Harbor, New York, despite having no criminal ties and actively participating in the legal immigration process. Their detention sparked widespread condemnation from local officials, school administrators, and advocacy groups like the ACLU. Governor Hochul confirmed their release and return to Jefferson County. The family’s detention, thousands of miles from their home, highlighted the human cost of immigration enforcement policies.
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A 52-year-old Chinese national died by suicide while detained at a Yuma, Arizona border patrol station after being apprehended in California for visa overstay. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal alleges that required welfare checks were not performed, and that surveillance footage indicates a significant delay in medical response following the suicide attempt. Investigations are underway by the CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility to determine whether established procedures were followed and whether false records were filed. Jayapal expressed concern over the incident, citing reports of inadequate care for detainees within the current immigration enforcement climate.
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British comic creator R.E. Burke was unjustly detained in the U.S. for 19 days due to a misinterpretation of her visa status, leading to a 10-year ban from the country. Her ordeal, which included harsh conditions and bureaucratic delays, prompted changes to UK travel advice regarding U.S. visits. Burke’s experience, shared in a recent Guardian article, has inspired a new comic highlighting the stories of other detained women. This project serves as a powerful testament to the human impact of immigration policies and bureaucratic failures.
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Maksym Chernyak, a Ukrainian national, died in ICE custody at a Miami hospital on February 20th after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. His wife alleges inadequate medical care at the Krome Detention Center contributed to his death, claiming he was denied timely treatment for his illness despite reporting symptoms. Chernyak, who arrived in the U.S. on humanitarian parole, had been arrested on domestic violence charges his wife disputes due to a language barrier. His death is the third at the Krome Detention Center since October 2024, prompting allegations of a pattern of medical neglect.
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The increasing number of immigrant arrests necessitates a significant expansion of detention capacity to accommodate President Trump’s deportation plans. Tom Homan, the administration’s immigration enforcement director, has requested 100,000 detention beds, a substantial increase from current levels. This need prompted an order for the Pentagon and DHS to prepare 30,000 additional beds at Guantanamo Bay for high-risk detainees. Immigration detention serves as a crucial element of the administration’s mass deportation strategy, as highlighted by immigration policy experts.
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President Trump ordered the Pentagon and DHS to prepare a Guantanamo Bay facility to house up to 30,000 immigrants, expanding the military’s role in immigration enforcement. This existing facility, separate from the detention center for terrorism suspects, will reportedly hold “the worst criminal illegal aliens.” The announcement coincided with the signing of the Laken Riley Act, enabling pre-trial detention for undocumented migrants charged with violent crimes. Cuban President Díaz-Canel strongly condemned the plan, citing the base’s history and illegal occupation of Cuban territory.
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President Trump ordered the Pentagon and DHS to prepare a Guantanamo Bay facility to house up to 30,000 immigrants, expanding the military’s role in immigration enforcement. This facility, separate from the detention center for terrorism suspects, has been used for migrants in the past. The move, announced alongside the signing of the Laken Riley Act, aims to significantly increase detention capacity for undocumented immigrants charged with serious crimes. Cuban President Díaz-Canel strongly condemned the plan, citing the base’s history and its location on illegally occupied Cuban territory.
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The Laken Riley Act, passed by Congress with bipartisan support, expands mandatory detention for undocumented immigrants accused of crimes, even minor ones. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez decried the bill as a “right-wing power grab,” alleging it funnels billions of taxpayer dollars to private prisons while undermining core American values like the presumption of innocence. This follows President Trump’s reversal of an executive order phasing out private prison contracts, leading to a significant increase in private prison stock values. Critics argue the bill represents a lucrative “sweetheart deal” for the private prison industry, exploiting a tragic death for profit.
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John Q. Hosedrinker