US News
ProPublica identifies more than 500 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents
According to ProPublica, more than 500 citizens were detained, despite DHS statements that such arrests are false and citizens are released.
The short version
- ProPublica identified more than 500 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents since Donald Trump returned to office.[ProPublica]
- DHS says allegations that ICE arrests and deports citizens are false and that citizens found are released immediately.[ProPublica]
- Individual accounts include a family whose detention DHS denies, and two people whose charges were later dismissed.[ProPublica]
- In Idaho, ProPublica identified at least 30 citizens among hundreds detained in an October raid; federal agencies seek dismissal of an ACLU lawsuit.[ProPublica]
Key facts
- ProPublica identified more than 500 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents since Donald Trump returned to office.[ProPublica]
- DHS states in written statements that allegations of ICE arresting and deporting citizens are false.[ProPublica]
- DHS denies that a family detained in a September 2025 incident was ever detained, and says agents used appropriate force against an uncle facing charges.[ProPublica]
- Andrea Velez said she was detained for two days after walking into a Los Angeles immigration raid in June 2025.[ProPublica]
- A judge dismissed the assault case the government brought against Andrea Velez.[ProPublica]
- Quentin Williams said agents choked and threw him to the ground during a January operation outside a Minnesota high school; his charges were dismissed and he has filed a damages claim.[ProPublica]
- ProPublica identified at least 30 U.S. citizens among hundreds detained in an October 2025 raid on a racetrack in Wilder, Idaho.[ProPublica]
- Juana Rodriguez and her son are lead plaintiffs in an ACLU of Idaho lawsuit alleging the raid illegally targeted Latinos; ICE, the FBI and Idaho agencies deny the charge and seek dismissal.[ProPublica]
What remains uncertain
- DHS disputes several individual accounts, including the claim that a family was detained; these accounts are attributed to the individuals and have not been independently resolved in this reporting.[ProPublica]
- The allegation that the Wilder raid illegally targeted Latinos is contested by ICE, the FBI and Idaho agencies and remains unresolved in the lawsuit.[ProPublica]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.