AI Overview
There are no public statistics that specify the exact number of U.S. citizens detained by ICE in 2025, as ICE focuses on detaining non-citizens
However, wrongful detentions of U.S. citizens by ICE have occurred, and some reports indicate that, in certain situations, people are being detained despite being citizens. Individuals detained can assert their citizenship and their right to speak with a lawyer, and ICE is not authorized to detain or arrest them based on their race.
What to do if you or someone you know is wrongly detained
- State your U.S. citizenship: You have the right to state that you are a U.S. citizen, as ICE does not have the authority to detain or arrest you.
- Remain silent: You have the right to remain silent and not answer questions.
- Request legal counsel: You have the right to speak to a lawyer and should ask to speak to one immediately.
- Contact a lawyer: You may want to contact an attorney or an immigration advocacy organization for assistance.
- Document the incident: Keep a record of the date, time, and any other relevant details of the incident, including the names and badge numbers of the officers While official U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy states it cannot arrest U.S. citizens, reports from 2025 indicate that more than 170 U.S. citizens were detained by immigration officials. This number is based on research from ProPublica and other news reports, and the actual total may be higher due to incomplete data and a lack of transparency.
Key Details from 2025 Reports:
- Confirmed Incidents ProPublica research in October 2025 identified over 170 instances of U.S. citizens being held against their will by immigration enforcement officials.
- Ongoing Issues News outlets, including The Guardian, reported additional cases in November 2025, such as a U.S. citizen high school student detained during a lunch break in Oregon and four U.S. citizens detained in separate incidents in the Portland area.
- Lack of Due Process Detained citizens often reported being held for days or weeks without access to legal counsel or phone calls, with their families sometimes unaware of their whereabouts.
- Agency Response The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly denied claims of targeting or detaining U.S. citizens, calling such reports “false and misleading” and asserting that their operations are highly targeted.
- Legal Challenges Incidents have led to lawsuits and calls from members of Congress for investigations into ICE’s practices, which some legal experts argue violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights of citizens.
Advocacy groups and legal experts have noted that while there is no legal requirement for U.S. citizens to carry identification within the country, carrying documents that prove citizenship can help prevent mistaken detentions.
