Hundreds of U.S. Citizens Detained by ICE Amid Injuries
Source reports published 22 Oct 2026, 8:25 am – 24 Oct 2026, 7:00 am AEST
Following an investigation, over 500 U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE, with some sustaining serious injuries. ICE officials maintain they do not detain U.S. citizens, despite reports of encounters and alleged use of force.
What happened
- A U.S. citizen, Ricardo Gonzalez, sustained a broken arm after an encounter with an unmarked ICE vehicle in Long Beach, California, on Saturday.
- Video footage shows Gonzalez being stopped and subsequently detained, with reports of him screaming for help.
- ProPublica’s investigation has revealed more than 500 U.S. citizens have been caught up in ICE’s enforcement actions, with many reporting injuries.
- Former immigration officials expressed shock at the scale of these encounters and questioned the justification for the use of force.
- Nicole Foy, of ProPublica, detailed instances where U.S. citizens were detained for alleged assault or due to questions about their citizenship, sometimes without charges being filed.
- Detainees reported extended periods of detention, sometimes 24 hours or more, without access to legal counsel or contact with family.
- Some were detained for only 15-20 minutes.
- Benny Melendez, a construction company owner in Texas, has implemented fencing at his job sites to prevent ICE arrests of his workers, citing the impact of the crackdown on his business and workforce.
- Local officials and voters expressed disillusionment with the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly the perceived targeting of Latino communities.
- Concerns were raised about the impact of ICE operations on the economy and the fear instilled in residents.
Original reporting
- PBS NewsHour: Investigation finds hundreds of U.S. citizens detained by ICE
2026-10-21T22:25:35+00:00 - CBS News: ICE crackdown prompts some Texas Latinos to turn away from Trump
2026-10-23T21:00:00+00:00