ICE and CBP Keep Hurting Immigrant Communities Under the Radar

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agencies, ICE and CBP, have shifted tactics but not their mission: detain and deport immigrants, even those without criminal records. Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin told CNBC that operations are now “more discreet,” but the harm to vulnerable communities remains devastating.

One of the most targeted groups is Dreamers, recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program created in 2012. Though DACA offers protection from deportation and work permits, the Trump administration has sought to end the program and refuses to recognize it as legal status. This leaves Dreamers exposed to detention and deportation, especially if they face any criminal charges.

Between January and September 2025, some 174 Dreamers were deported. The Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that DACA does not automatically stop deportation proceedings. Meanwhile, delays in renewing DACA protections have left thousands out of work and vulnerable. The Associated Press reports renewal waits stretching up to six months or longer, causing widespread instability.

The case of José Contreras Díaz highlights this cruelty. Brought to the U.S. at age eight, he had a valid DACA permit but was arrested during his renewal appointment. Deported to Honduras, he was later brought back to Texas only to be detained again. His attorney calls his deportation illegal, yet his ordeal is far from unique.

FWD.us estimates about 530,000 Dreamers hold DACA status, contributing $65 billion annually to the U.S. economy and paying nearly $18 billion in taxes. Yet the administration’s policies are dismantling these protections, undermining both individuals and the communities they support.

This crackdown extends beyond Dreamers to asylum seekers, TPS holders, and others under humanitarian protections. ICE routinely detains immigrants during lawful court appointments and carries out deportations without hearings. Conditions in detention centers are harsh, with reports of physical abuse, chemical agents, and inadequate medical care.

A Washington Post investigation found that in Trump’s first year, ICE staff used force in at least 780 cases. Children like 10-year-old Wilfredo, a Venezuelan asylum seeker, are forced to appear alone before immigration judges, overwhelmed and without legal counsel. His mother’s detention separated them during their asylum case, leaving the boy traumatized and vulnerable.

The administration’s “discreet” approach masks a brutal campaign that disregards due process, constitutional rights, and basic humanity. The ongoing attacks on immigrant communities reveal a system bent on de-legalizing millions and expanding cruelty under the guise of law enforcement.

We will keep tracking these abuses and holding the Trump administration accountable for the human cost of its immigration policies. Because in this fight, silence and invisibility only fuel injustice.