ICE detentions of US citizens
The gist
ProPublica documented 519 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents between January 2025 and October 21, 2026.
Forty Democratic lawmakers now demand DHS explain how citizens were held.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025Phillip James, a 39-year-old man with schizophrenia, is detained by ICE; birth records and previous U.S. passports support his citizenship claim.
- Oct 21, 2026Erik Zepeda, a 20-year-old nonverbal U.S. citizen special needs student, is detained by federal immigration officers walking to Santa Maria High School; witnesses say he was tackled and restrained and left with bruises and a wrist injury later requiring surgery.
- Oct 23, 2026The Santa Barbara Independent reports on the detention near Santa Maria High School.
Key terms
- ICE
- Federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security that enforces immigration and customs laws.
- DHS
- U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, including anti-terrorism, immigration, border control, and cybersecurity.
- midterm elections
- US general elections held near the midpoint of a president's four-year term, when all House seats and about a third of Senate seats are contested.
Source: Wikipedia