U.S. Immigration Agents Detain Over 170 Citizens: A Pattern of Abuse and Neglect

More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Held by Immigration Agents: A Pattern of Abuse In a disturbing trend that has gone largely unreported, more than 170 U.S. citizens have been detained by immigration agents in the past year, with some facing days-long detention without access to lawyers or medical care. According to an investigation by ProPublica, many of these detentions occurred during raids and protests, where immigration agents would grab individuals without verifying their citizenship status. In one such incident, Leonardo Garcia Venegas was detained while filming a raid on his worksite, despite showing officers his REAL ID and claiming he was a citizen. "I was just doing my job, and they took me away like I was nobody," Venegas said in an interview with ProPublica. "It was like they didn't care that I was a U.S. citizen." The investigation found that nearly 20 children were among those detained, including two who have cancer. Many of these individuals reported being held incommunicado for extended periods, without access to their families or lawyers. "We've seen a pattern of abuse here," said Nicole Foy, the ProPublica reporter who led the investigation. "Immigration agents are not following proper protocols, and it's resulting in the detention of U.S. citizens." The government does not track how often immigration agents detain citizens, making it difficult to determine the full scope of the problem. Background: Immigration enforcement has been a contentious issue in recent years, with critics arguing that aggressive tactics are leading to unnecessary detentions and deportations. The Trump administration's "zero-tolerance" policy, which aimed to prosecute all adults crossing the border without authorization, led to widespread criticism for its impact on families and children. Additional perspectives: Immigration advocates have long argued that the system is plagued by inefficiencies and a lack of transparency. "This is just another example of how broken our immigration system is," said Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum. "We need to do better in protecting the rights of U.S. citizens." Current status: ProPublica's investigation has sparked calls for reform, with some lawmakers pushing for legislation to address the issue. Next developments: The investigation is ongoing, and ProPublica plans to continue tracking detentions and advocating for policy changes. What this means: The detention of U.S. citizens by immigration agents raises serious concerns about due process and the rule of law. As the country grapples with complex immigration issues, it's essential that we prioritize transparency and accountability in our enforcement policies. Key statistics: More than 170 U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents in the past year Nearly 20 children among those detained, including two with cancer Many individuals held for days without access to lawyers or medical care Sources: ProPublica investigation Interviews with U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents Immigration advocacy groups *Reporting by Propublica.*