Bill would prevent ICE from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens

A new proposal in Congress would stop federal immigration agents from detaining and possibly deporting U.S. citizens.Why it matters: U.S. citizens aren't supposed to be arrested or detained unless agents allege they're breaking laws. But reports of citizens of Latino descent being detained — or stopped and asked to prove citizenship — are rippling through Latino communities nationwide.Critics say reports of ICE detaining citizens are instances of racial profiling and overzealous policing — something the U.S. Department of Homeland Security angrily denies.Zoom in: U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash) introduced legislation Wednesday to formally block Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens.Dubbed the "Stop ICE from Kidnapping US Citizens Act," the bill would set penalties for ICE agents who unlawfully hold U.S. citizens and place them in immigration proceedings.The proposal is co-sponsored by several Democrats and will likely face a long-shot bid in the GOP-controlled House. Zoom out: The allegations of U.S. citizens detentions come as ICE continues raids in predominantly Latino communities in the Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Diego areas; cities in Texas, New Mexico, New York and Florida; and agricultural centers such as Central California.In May, ICE briefly detained Florida-born Leonardo Garcia Venegas from his job at a construction site in Foley, Alabama. Agents alleged that Garcia's Real ID was fake, according to Noticias Telemundo. He alleged agents forced him to his knees and handcuffed him.Immigration officials held U.S. citizen and Albuquerque resident Jose Hermosillo for 10 days in Arizona's Florence Correctional Center after arresting him, and didn't believe him when he said he was a citizen, per Arizona Public Media.Two U.S. citizen children in April were deported to Honduras after ICE detained their mother during a routine check-in.What they're saying: "ICE is acting like a rogue force, kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets with no due process," Jayapal said in a statement. "When ICE is conducting immigration enforcement, arresting and detaining U.S. citizens is illegal — and deporting U.S. citizens is illegal, full stop."Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, told Axios that recent reports of citizens wrongly being arrested are false — and that "the media is shamefully peddling a false narrative" to demonize ICE agents."DHS enforcement operations are highly targeted and are not resulting in the arrest of U.S. citizens," McLaughlin said. "We do our due diligence."Yes, but: An Axios review of news reports, social media videos and claims by advocacy groups about raids since President Trump took office found several instances in which U.S. citizens alleged they were wrongfully detained.ICE hasn't released statistics on such detentions in months.Flashback: In May, House Republicans killed a measure in Trump's big budget bill that would have stopped ICE from being able to deport or detain U.S. citizens.The amendment, sponsored by Jayapal, would have prevented any funds earmarked for ICE from being used to detain or deport citizens."The fact that Democrats ... feel the need to even introduce an amendment that says ICE cannot deport U.S. citizens is bats**t crazy," Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said on the House floor.Go deeper: ICE accused of racial profiling in detentions of Latino U.S. citizensU.S. Latinos fear new mass deportations may target all Hispanics

Comments

World news

National Crime Agency officer jailed for stealing £4.4m worth of seized bitcoin

the guardian

University of Michigan faces federal investigation after two Chinese students arrested for smuggling biological materials

about 3 hours ago

Dad of crypto king mysteriously vanished in LA. Then ‘creepy texts’ from him started to arrive in the family group chat

Independent

Firefighter volunteers from Mexico crossed border to help Texas flood victims: 'This was a mission to come and help our brothers'

about 3 hours ago

Inferno engulfs main stage at Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium

Metro

Comments

Similar News

Customers are BANNED from splitting the bill in restaurants across popular British holidaymaker island

UK government putting pressure on nature groups to drop opposition to planning bill

One quarter of British households are late paying energy bills

Senate Republicans advance Trump bill to cancel $9bn in approved spending

Democrats once again push bill to get Epstein files released, but Republicans block it

Texas adds transgender bathroom bill to agenda for special legislative session to deal with deadly flooding

Trump’s tax bill funds $6bn expansion of US-Mexico border surveillance, report finds

First Nations groups file legal challenge to Ontario’s Bill 5, feds’ Bill C-5

Bill O’Reilly forced to admit that his Biden claims about Epstein are false: ‘Yeah, so?!’

Republicans complain to Canada over wildfire smoke despite supporting planet-heating bill

University of Saskatchewan’s Student Union calls for repeal on Bill 137

First Nations summit on Carney’s major-projects bill ‘only the beginning’ of talks says AFN chief

First Nations summit on Carney's major-projects bill 'only the beginning' of talks says AFN chief

British women beaten and stamped on in row over bill at Turkish restaurant

Moment British women are brutally beaten and stamped on by bouncers at 'Mad Boys' restaurant in row over bill at Turkish resort

Sick Children Will Be Among the Victims of Trump’s Big Bill

Barristers in England and Wales struggle to pay bills after legal aid hack

Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ is estimated to leave millions without health care. He insists ‘it’s not going to cause death’

How a handful of Republicans learned to stop worrying and love the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ after switching their votes

Ontario environment minister apologizes for ‘confusion’ over clean water bill letter

World news

National Crime Agency officer jailed for stealing £4.4m worth of seized bitcoin

Drone attacks on oil fields in Iraq's Kurdish region shut down facilities

Pete Davidson and Elsie Hewitt are expecting their first child

Huge fire engulfs main stage at Tomorrowland two days before festival starts

Largest Martian Meteorite on Earth sold for millions at auction

Budget airline that took ICE deportation flight contract shuts down West Coast operations

The martial art which is helping Parkinson’s disease patients overcome their symptoms

ICE is now richer than most of world’s militaries thanks to Trump’s new funding

Family who won £216,000,000 on EuroMillions reveal how they will spend jackpot

Mark Gatiss’s Bookish is already challenging Sherlock

Trump Embraces State Capitalism

What to know about the African kingdom of Eswatini where the US sent 5 deportees

Trump makes it personal with MAGA over Epstein

'Betrayed' Afghan interpreter says family 'waiting for death'

Pete Davidson expecting 1st baby with girlfriend Elsie Hewitt

Woman accused of seducing, blackmailing Buddhist monks for millions

Emma Watson banned from driving after being caught speeding

Alberta Next panel’s 1st town hall in Red Deer hears support, calls for separation vote

Fire engulfs main stage of Tomorrowland festival, two days before opening

Judge orders arrest of ‘Chimp Crazy’ star as she faces sentencing for perjury

University of Michigan faces federal investigation after two Chinese students arrested for smuggling biological materials

Dad of crypto king mysteriously vanished in LA. Then ‘creepy texts’ from him started to arrive in the family group chat

PEPFAR keeps millions of people with HIV alive and may be spared from Trump spending cuts

Trump could lose the ‘bros’ that helped him win election over Epstein fallout, pundits warn

Passengers reach settlement in $1 billion lawsuit over Alaska Airlines flight where door plug blew out at 16,000 feet

Newsmax mocks ‘terrified’ Fox News for avoiding the Epstein story: ‘Don’t want to p*ss off’ Trump

Laura Loomer warns Trump’s Epstein flub could ‘consume his presidency’

New Jersey woman whose friend’s boyfriend posted stolen intimate photos of her online gets $8.7 million payout

Firefighter volunteers from Mexico crossed border to help Texas flood victims: 'This was a mission to come and help our brothers'

Inferno engulfs main stage at Tomorrowland Festival in Belgium

Reeves blamed for UK inflation bump as NI rise hits food prices

The Open 2025 schedule, tee times, prize money and how to watch

Afghan data breach risks pushing more asylum seekers onto small boats

The gross incompetence of the Afghan leak knows no end

Rachel Reeves’s Mansion House speech ignored the one thing everyone was thinking about

EU chief unveils new $2.3 trillion budget. Lawmakers say the math doesn't 'add up'

Bill would prevent ICE from detaining or deporting U.S. citizens

Why Israel is getting involved in Syria's internal fighting

Why Trump has turned his back on Putin - somewhat

Deadly crush at Gaza aid site after new system implemented

Wall Street rides roller-coaster after Trump walks back talk of firing Powell

Ford, Carney governments told to ‘do some homework’ on duties to First Nations

2 men to serve jail time then be deported for Surrey hit-and-run dragging death

Five highlights from 2025-26 NHL schedule

North Edmonton playground fire as arson: Police

Winnipeg Jets announce 2025-26 regular season schedule

Mum of Michael Frison receives chilling mystery messages year after son vanished

Tomorrowland festival main stage engulfed in flames as fireworks heard

Trump says he discussed firing Fed chair but 'highly unlikely' he will

'Sparring in space' – BBC gains rare access to US base tracking global missile strikes

The Impact of Fewer Babies Being Born in Countries Around the Globe

Mosaic of Lovers, Taken by Nazi Officer, Is Returned to Pompeii

Police reveal how five-year-old fell from Disney cruise ship before father jumped in to saved her

Donald Trump Jr-led online gun store known on Wall Street as ‘PEW’ launches stock offerings

Pie Company that appeared on ‘Shark Tank’ files for bankruptcy

Trump calls it ‘highly unlikely’ he’ll fire Fed chair Powell after reportedly telling House GOP he ‘likely will soon’

Trump administration deported ‘monsters’ to tiny African country in deal catching diplomats by surprise