More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents

Friday, October 17, 2025

Americans Detained: The government doesn't track how many citizens are held by immigration agents. We found more than 170 cases this year where citizens were detained at raids and protests. Held Incommunicado: More than 20 citizens have reported being held for over a day without being able to call their loved ones or a lawyer. In some cases their families couldn't find them. Cases Wilted: Agents have arrested about 130 Americans, including a dozen elected officials, for allegedly interfering with or assaulting officers, yet those cases were often dropped.

Posted by qcp at 09:37 AM | 68 COMMENTS | permalink

This reporting is so important, and also just wanted to say that I love @propublica.org's How We Did This notes. I think it does so much for transparency and context, and helping people understand how a story is told.[image or embed]
" Rainesford Stauffer (@rainesford.bsky.social) Oct 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM

Comments

ICE=GESTAPO.

Argument?

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 09:54 AM

here's the evidence Oneironut was asking me for.

#2 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 10:23 AM

ICE kidnaps random US citizens from the city streets and then makes them prove that they are not migrants.

And if they can't prove that they are US citizens to their high school level of satisfaction, they are thrown into the Hole.

We have a fascist dictator who is President of the United States, and these people are flat-out Nazis.

#3 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 10:24 AM

remember when they told us: "if you are here in the country legally, you have nothing to fear"?

Good times.

Now in the rearview mirror of the Dictatorship.

#4 | Posted by e1g1 at 2025-10-17 10:25 AM

Here's the evidence Oneironut was asking me for.

#2 | Posted by Alexandrite

I'm sure that he asked you for it.

There's no way that he's moved by it.

There's a perceptible chance that he is ICE himself.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 10:26 AM

All to induce an immigrant riot. Once that happens Trump's appointees can carry out their authortarian agenda. Trump doesn't care. He'll interior decorate and oversee the rococo of his Cinderella ballroom. It's his life ambition. His mommy would be so proud of her good boy.

#6 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-10-17 10:47 AM

Are you MAGA s*&^heaps ready to admit you were had and are a bunch of gullible idiots yet?

#7 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 10:52 AM

here's the evidence Oneironut was asking me for.
#2 | POSTED BY ALEXANDRITE

We compiled cases by sifting through both English- and Spanish-language social media, lawsuits, court records and local media reports.

Thats not evidence.

There's 1000s of cases of people being arrested for crimes they didn't commit, thats not kidnapping. As the article states sometimes ICE from Obama to today has deported citizens, which is possible in the 100mile zone where no due process is needed.

This is weak sauce to charge an officer of the law for kidnapping, if so why do you only care about this weak sauce now?

Us immigrants are required to carry our papers and show them on demand. All this "show us your papers" because of Trump is just false, its been happening as far back as when the US started issuing VISAs.

IMO Americans would be wise after a invasion of illegal immigration to carry their passports. As I said the blowback to fix the situation in America will require some eggs to be broken, don't be one of them.

#8 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-17 11:42 AM

There is no evidence that will compel you, and your calls for it are disingenuous at best.

read the ------- article.

#9 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 11:47 AM

Yeah, but they're not white so it doesn't matter.

#10 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-10-17 11:48 AM

All to induce an immigrant riot.

It would be fair to say both sides are just itching for this. The NoKingRally is meant to gain supporters and rioters.

#11 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-17 11:48 AM

There is no evidence that will compel you,

Sure there is, for instance. Holding someone for ransom

read the ------- article.

I did, of the 170 only 20 were held over night. This is hardly the kidnapping wave you are implying.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-17 11:50 AM

This is hardly the kidnapping wave you are implying.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut

No one's implying kidnapping.

The kidnapping is taking place.

#13 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:52 AM

only 20 were held over night.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut

"Only" twenty?

At what number do you start getting upset, Mr. ICE in Your Veins?

#14 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:53 AM

read the ------- article.

#9 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 11:47 AM | Reply

I did and look what I found.

"Tallying the number of Americans detained by immigration agents is inherently messy and incomplete. The government has long ignored recommendations for it to track such cases, even as the U.S. has a history of detaining and even deporting citizens, including during the Obama administration and Trump's first term"

Not one word from you about the BHO Administration and their policies.

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-10-17 11:55 AM

Unidentified persons forcing you into an unmarked van and taking you away to an unknown location is kidnapping.

It's terrorism.

#16 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:55 AM

Lets weigh some things ....

20 citizens being held over night given the 100s of thousands ICE is processing.

ICE arrests 171 noncitizens with pending charges or convictions for murder, homicide or assault against children during nation-wide law enforcement effort
www.ice.gov

Whats a life worth to you? Whats stopping sexual child abuse worth to you?

As I have stated during Bidens term, many citizens are having their lives ruined by illegal immigrants. Why would you allow that to your own people?

Fixing for the helpless citizen isn't going to be easy given the emotional energy of people like yourself.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-10-17 11:56 AM

Not one word from you about the BHO Administration and their policies.

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Would it make you stop what you're doing?

#18 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:56 AM

"20 citizens being held over night given the 100s of thousands ICE is processing"

Is indefensible.

#19 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:58 AM

Would it make you stop what you're doing?

#18 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 11:56 AM | Reply | Flag:

It's simply you and Alexa with your fake outrage. It didn't matter to you when a (D) did it.

#20 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-10-17 11:59 AM

It didn't matter to you when a (D) did it

Link for your strawman?

THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

#21 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 12:00 PM

- to carry their passports.

One of the basic freedoms that Americans have not been willing to give up is to not be a, "Papers, please" society. We as citizens have the right to free speech, along with Life and Liberty... well, up until recently.

Of course, in China...

"The Chinese government is systematically collecting and monitoring DNA on a massive scale, often without the informed consent of its citizens. This extensive program, which goes far beyond standard criminal justice applications, is a key component of China's expanding surveillance state and raises serious human rights concerns."

www.google.com

scroll down for more sources

#22 | Posted by Corky at 2025-10-17 12:00 PM

It would be fair to say both sides are just itching for this.

BOTH SIDES! *drink*

Quit trying to normalize evil. You suck at it.

#23 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 12:01 PM

It's simply you and Alexa with your fake outrage. It didn't matter to you when a (D) did it.

#20 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-10-17 11:59 AM | Reply

What an amazing post.

Strawman, misogyny, partisanship, AND projection.

Do better.

#24 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-10-17 12:07 PM

Does the list really include two American kids with cancer?

#25 | Posted by Tor at 2025-10-17 12:07 PM

- The NoKingRally is meant to gain supporters and rioters.

"rioters", Number Two Son?

Are you by any chance wearing your Stephen Miller/Goebbels t-shirt?

#26 | Posted by Corky at 2025-10-17 12:07 PM

What an amazing post.

Strawman, misogyny, partisanship, AND projection.

Do better.

#24 | POSTED BY ALEXANDRITE

That is the best he's got today. And I don't expect tomorrow to be any different.

#27 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-17 12:12 PM

ICE thugs are as thin skinned as the child-raping orange --------.

www.thedailybeast.com

#28 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-10-17 12:26 PM

fake outrage.

#20 | Posted by lfthndthrds

There's likely to be three million people on the streets tomorrow.

None of us is faking it.

#29 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 12:26 PM

It's simply you and Alexa with your fake outrage.

#20 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Sociopaths commonly do not believe that other people have moral feelings.

They think that's a trick or an angle that's played to get something.

In other words, they see other people as they are themselves.

#30 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 12:28 PM

I note that MAGA has moved this discussion from "US citizens are never taken by ICE" to "So what, US citizens are taken".

If your minds were as flexible as your morality you'd be geniuses.

#31 | Posted by Zed at 2025-10-17 12:32 PM

There's 1000s of cases of people being arrested for crimes they didn't commit,

The people being kidnapped by ICE haven't committed any crimes other than being brown in public.

People arrested by the police get a trail.

Thats not the case with ICE.

thats not kidnapping.

When an unmarked vehicle pulls up and masked men jump out and throw people in, that is kidnapping.

As the article states sometimes ICE from Obama
#8 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Obama's fault!!!

Of course it is.

Shut up stupid.

How are you so wrong about everything?

#32 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 12:37 PM

Strawman, misogyny, partisanship, AND projection.
Do better.
#24 | POSTED BY ALEXANDRITE

He can't do better.

He's nothing more than an angry troll.

#33 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 12:38 PM

I did, of the 170 only 20 were held over night. This is hardly the kidnapping wave you are implying.

#12 | Posted by oneironaut

Since you're a lying sack of s*&^, I don't actually know what foreign s*&^hole you come from, but that's not kosher here.

Maybe bone up on the actual civics of this country before showing your a&& again.

#34 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 12:49 PM

Kidnapping is either taking or confining a person to a new location or confining them to a particular place, without consent. The person is taken or held involuntarily, against their will. The person is taken by force, by threat, or through deception. The intent is to terrorize the victim(s) or others, or for ransom, or some other criminal reason.

This isn't complicated.

ICE is a terrorist arm of the current United States government.

#35 | Posted by YAV at 2025-10-17 01:23 PM

As I have stated during Bidens term, many citizens are having their lives ruined by illegal immigrants. Why would you allow that to your own people?

Fixing for the helpless citizen isn't going to be easy given the emotional energy of people like yourself.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut

Since you're not even an American, your opinion is worth exactly nothing.

#36 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 01:37 PM

Since you're not even an American, your opinion is worth exactly nothing.

#36 | POSTED BY JPW

Since it based on lies and misinformation it is worth less than nothing.

In fact, he is explaining to us how HE is harmful for Americans.

#37 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-17 01:44 PM

-Since you're not even an American, your opinion is worth exactly nothing.

you live in Missouri? STFU about anything going on outside of Missouri.

#38 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 01:48 PM

you live in Missouri? STFU about anything going on outside of Missouri.

#38 | Posted by eberly

Awww look at ---------- white knighting for wonton.

Arguing in favor of violating civil rights seems acceptable to you. Maybe you should STFU as well if you're that ignorant of our nation's civics.

#39 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 02:03 PM

"ICE=GESTAPO.
Argument?"

Yes. It's one thing criticize how they've been used, or instances when they've been excessive. It's another to go all ACAB and are just one step away from saying dumb stuff like "Defund the Police!"

#40 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-10-17 02:19 PM

-Arguing in favor of violating civil rights seems acceptable to you.

No, it's not acceptable to me. Not sure it's acceptable to anybody.

But putting it in context to what law enforcement does daily isn't out of bounds.

It's unacceptable. In every way. Even if it's legal....it's still wrong.

Now, back to where you get to approve of opinions based on one's country of origin........I think we can see who needs the civics lesson.

#41 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 02:24 PM

#9 | Posted by Alexandrite

Absolutely the case, no point in engaging that bucket of human filth.

#42 | Posted by Angrydad at 2025-10-17 02:25 PM

no point in engaging that bucket of human filth.

don't be so hard on yourself.

But engaging with oneiron is exactly what he's going to do. Look at how many folks engage him all the time.

like him, don't like him, agree or disagree.....he'll be "engaged" 10,000 times more than you'll ever be.

#43 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 02:29 PM

Us immigrants are required to carry our papers and show them on demand.

#8 | Posted by oneironaut

Some serious BS there.

First off - Immigrants who have become citizens are NOT required to do so.
Second - Nobody who is a citizen is required to show papers legally.
Third - ICE has no jurisdiction at all over Citizens period. They are not legally empowered to stop or detain them.

Yes, technically passport/visa and green card holders are required to carry them. (Special note: not all visitors require a visa.) Just like you are technically required to carry your passport on you when you visit other countries. I say technically because virtually nobody does and frankly you are an idiot to do so. Carry a photograph. The reason for that is simple - the loss or theft of these items is a big deal and it is far more likely to happen outside the home or hotel. In fact you are warned not to carry them in many places we have been. It only becomes an issue if you run afoul of the law in a normal country and we are no longer normal as we have gone "full ------".

This was already on my mind because literally just yesterday, I was at an airport and my companions ear buds did not come out of the machine. TSA was able to locate them. While we were waiting a woman's driver's license was lost. TSA was eventually able to locate it. While I then waited for 2 hours I heard them page at least 3 people to return to the checkpoint for their lost passport.

#44 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2025-10-17 02:55 PM

I did, of the 170 only 20 were held over night. This is hardly the kidnapping wave you are implying.
#12 | Posted by oneironaut

Lets weigh some things ....
20 citizens being held over night given the 100s of thousands ICE is processing.
vs
ICE arrests 171 noncitizens with pending charges or convictions for murder, homicide or assault against children during nation-wide law enforcement effort

Whats a life worth to you? Whats stopping sexual child abuse worth to you?
As I have stated during Bidens term, many citizens are having their lives ruined by illegal immigrants. Why would you allow that to your own people?
Fixing for the helpless citizen isn't going to be easy given the emotional energy of people like yourself.
#17 | Posted by oneironaut

So, are we a nations of law or not? Taking citizens even for a brief time without a legal reason against their will is tantamount to kidnapping. I don't care if it is 10 minutes. If I force you into my vehicle I have kidnapped you even I only hold briefly. What would I be charged with if I took anyone against their will, put them in my car and drove a 100 yards away? Kidnapping. If I was an federal agent with no jurisdiction over citizens it should be the same penalty. Who cares what language I CHOOSE to engage with you in or what the color of my skin is?

Yes, let's weigh some things. I am all for punishing the heinous crimes you have outlined. But how disingenuous you are talking about charged and not convicted individuals. How many were arrested during a booking? How many were already in jail? How many were out on bail? How many were arrested at the court house? How many would ICE have detained in an average year regardless of this crackdown? I would hope most or all 171, but then again traditionally they have a trial, go to jail and are THEN deported.

It isn't how much a life is worth, how many American citizens are charged with those same crimes every single year? And for that matter it seems that MAGA are just fine with watering their version of the liberty tree with the blood of the innocent. The REAL question is, are we a nation of laws or not?

The Constitution is being flouted time and again as agents round up people on the streets without warrants and break into homes for warrantless searches. We also have what is known as Due Process as part of our legal system that is being thrown out the window. Right now I don't care what Obama did as that is the past and a combination of a whataboutism and a strawman and nothing to do with today. How many of those 171 are guilty and how many are innocent? I have little doubt most are bad people or at least guilty of a crime but they are due their day in court. No matter what I think of the accused and the evidence against them they are DUE their day in court. Should we just deport them back home, what if they are here legally AND innocent? Being charged with a crime does not make you a criminal.

#45 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2025-10-17 03:27 PM

-Whats a life worth to you? Whats stopping sexual child abuse worth to you?

That's how at times we've excused horrible behavior by our government.

It sucks but we have our laws and due process and that means sometimes a sexual predator isn't stopped like we want.

Not to mention other heinous criminals.

#46 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 03:33 PM

well said.

#47 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 03:35 PM

with oneiron is exactly what he's going to do. Look at how many folks engage him all the time.

BullBringer better lick his wounds and get back to trolling if he's gonna win Eberly's coveted "most responded to poster" award.

What I find most amusing about OneTrumper is the fact anyone believes him to be a Chinese Immigrant.

That "open borders, liberal" discovered he's a Chinese immigrant when it became a way to attack democrats.

The guy is as Chinese as a fortune cookie.

#48 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 04:21 PM

jacklemmon.com

#49 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-10-17 04:22 PM

-"most responded to poster" award.

We could bring back 101, buffalo bob, or goatman.....they could take that title from him.

#50 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 04:30 PM

Goatman is the only poster who came close to BullBringer/BullJohnson.

#51 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 04:36 PM

Goatman.....the only poster in history who everyone claimed they had plonked but all responded to all day and night when he was here.

LOL

#52 | Posted by eberly at 2025-10-17 04:39 PM

I gotta say, ironically, ICE shenanigans have made me far more sympathetic about hiring the Undocumented. Recently did so on an $18,000 carpentry and painting job for my large house. Not an English speaker among them. I feel morally obligated to seek them out. The ICE Gestapo offends every fiber of my being as a patriotic American with a strong belief in human rights and the moral framework set out by Thomas Jefferson in our Declaration of Independence. Suck on it MAGA.

#53 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-10-17 05:16 PM

#53 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-10-17 05:16 PM | Reply | Flag: MORALLY DECENT

I changed barbers to a nice Palestinian man and my wife and I dined at two different Persian restaurants after Dummkopf Trumpf illegally bombed Iran earlier this year. A few weeks ago I helped a panicked Hispanic man get to xxxxx; I didn't see any ICE thugs around, but this poor guy was scared shhtless, so they may have been nearby.

#54 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-10-17 05:29 PM

We could bring back 101, buffalo bob, or goatman.....

Are we sure they are not in the sock drawer already?

#55 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-10-17 05:33 PM

"I gotta say, ironically, ICE shenanigans have made me far more sympathetic about hiring the Undocumented. Recently did so on an $18,000 carpentry and painting job for my large house. Not an English speaker among them. I feel morally obligated to seek them out. The ICE Gestapo offends every fiber of my being as a patriotic American with a strong belief in human rights and the moral framework set out by Thomas Jefferson in our Declaration of Independence. Suck on it MAGA."

Christ, you people are so oblivious to how you sound exactly like the maga morons who do stupid stuff to "pwn the libs" or whatever. What next, are you gonna brag about how you helped human traffickers just to annoy ICE? And your post is practically indistinguable from the Russian bot that posted right after you.

#56 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-10-17 05:40 PM

I would not help human traffickers. But I sure as hell would gladly represent people unlawfully targeted and hassled by ICE.

#57 | Posted by moder8 at 2025-10-17 05:47 PM

Now, back to where you get to approve of opinions based on one's country of origin........I think we can see who needs the civics lesson.

#41 | POSTED BY EBERLY

Nothing in our civics counters my discounting of an ignorant foreigner's opinion.

Why?

Ignorance of civics? Ignored.

Lack of cultural attachment or experience? Ignored.

Lack of skin in the game? Ignored.

#58 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 05:49 PM

#46 yup

#59 | Posted by jpw at 2025-10-17 05:50 PM

many citizens are having their lives ruined by illegal immigrants.
#17 | POSTED BY ONETRUMPER

Source: "Trust me bro."

#60 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 06:15 PM

#56 | POSTED BY SENTINEL

What does that word salad mean?

#61 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-10-17 06:17 PM

Now, back to where you get to approve of opinions based on one's country of origin........I think we can see who needs the civics lesson.

#41 | POSTED BY EBERLY

It's not really about an opinion. But about misinformation and outright propaganda.

Opinions are a dime a dozen and so what? An opinion is just that.. an opinion. It's when it's actually a lie or an attempt at spreading misinformation or distortion of the truth that it becomes worth addressing.

But there is a special place in hell for hostile foreigners who take advantage of our open society and open internet and who attempt to use our "freedoms" to create chaos and division in America by spreading hateful lies, propaganda and misinformation.

OneNut is a great example and Tosser/monkeybars was another.

#62 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-10-17 07:23 PM

" What does that word salad mean?"

It should be obvious to anyone whose brain hasn't been fried by years of hard drug use.

#63 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-10-17 07:46 PM

#63 | Posted by sentinel

Shag off, dirtbag.

#64 | Posted by Angrydad at 2025-10-18 12:33 PM

I think once the democrats take power back they should have a year to round up all of the red hats and deport them to Russia. Makes perfect sense since they hate America and all.

#65 | Posted by a_monson at 2025-10-18 02:32 PM

hard drug use.
#63 | Posted by sentinel

What do you consider "hard drugs," Officer McGruff?

#66 | Posted by rstybeach11 at 2025-10-18 04:10 PM

When Pres Trump told the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by, he was not joking.

Trump doesn't disavow white supremacy, tells far-right extremist group to 'stand by' (2020)
www.pbs.org

... President Donald Trump on Tuesday didn't condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer, branding it solely a "left-wing" problem and telling one far-right extremist group to "stand back and stand by."

"Almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing," said Trump, whose exchange with Democrat Joe Biden left the extremist group Proud Boys celebrating what some of its members saw as tacit approval.

He was responding to a question from debate moderator Chris Wallace, who asked the president if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that have showed up at some protests. Wallace specifically mentioned Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a white teenager was charged with killing two protesters during demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man. Trump has repeatedly blamed "antifa," which stands for the anti-fascist movement. ...

#67 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-18 11:32 PM

@#67

Is Pres Trump now trying to recruit those members of groups he told to "stnd-by" into ICE with a $50K sign-up bonus?

ICE Drops Age Limits, Offering $50K Bonus To Lure Patriots'
www.tampafp.com

... New recruitment drive seeks 10,000 officers with incentives including a $50,000 signing bonus and student loan forgiveness. ...

#68 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-10-18 11:36 PM

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