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During the Trump administration's hardline approach to immigration enforcement, a disturbing number of American citizens were mistakenly detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising serious concerns about due process, racial profiling, and the integrity of immigration enforcement systems.
An investigation by multiple news organizations and civil rights groups revealed that dozens of U.S. citizens—most of them Latino or Black—were erroneously arrested and held in ICE custody, sometimes for weeks or even months. Many were targeted due to flawed databases, mistaken identity, or simply because they lacked immediate access to identification documents during encounters with immigration officials.
How It Happened
The crackdown, which emphasized rapid deportations and aggressive enforcement tactics, relied heavily on automated systems and local law enforcement cooperation. In many cases, ICE issued detainers or picked up individuals from jails based on incomplete or inaccurate data, without verifying their citizenship status.
Some of the wrongly detained citizens had been born in the United States, while others had become naturalized citizens. Despite their legal status, they were still swept up in enforcement operations, often under the assumption that they were undocumented immigrants.
In some instances, American citizens were deported or nearly deported before their status could be confirmed. The process of proving citizenship from behind bars—especially without access to legal counsel or identification—is notoriously difficult, particularly for individuals with limited resources.
Real-Life Cases
One U.S.-born man in Florida was detained for over three weeks despite repeatedly telling authorities he was a citizen.
A Marine Corps veteran of Jamaican descent spent days in immigration detention because ICE agents questioned the authenticity of his passport.
Another man in California was nearly deported to Mexico despite being born in Los Angeles.
Civil rights organizations argue that racial profiling played a major role, with people of color far more likely to be assumed as undocumented, even when they were U.S. citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other advocacy groups have filed lawsuits seeking damages for wrongful detention and demanding reforms in the system.
Lack of Oversight and Accountability
Critics say the incidents expose deep flaws in the way ICE and other immigration enforcement agencies operate, especially when aggressive policy goals override safeguards meant to protect individual rights. The lack of transparency, poor data management, and limited legal recourse for detainees contributed to these errors.
While ICE has stated it takes such mistakes seriously and investigates wrongful detentions, watchdog groups argue that systemic changes are needed to prevent further violations.
Calls for Reform
Since the end of the Trump administration, lawmakers and human rights organizations have called for increased oversight, better verification procedures, and an independent review process for immigration-related detentions. Some advocates are pushing for legislation to ensure that U.S. citizens are never mistakenly detained or deported, and that anyone in custody has the immediate right to legal representation.
