Over 170 US citizens reportedly detained by immigration agents during recent sweeps

ISTANBUL

More than 170 US citizens were reportedly detained by immigration agents during the first nine months of President Donald Trump’s second administration, according to an investigation by ProPublica that alleges several citizens were assaulted, restrained or held without timely release.

The report by the nonprofit investigative journalism organization comes after a Supreme Court decision allowing immigration agents in the Los Angeles area to consider race during enforcement operations. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said citizens “shouldn’t be concerned,” since they would be released once their legal status was verified.

However, ProPublica claims its findings suggest otherwise.

It said that “Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents,” with some held outdoors in harsh conditions or detained while pregnant. Nearly 20 of those detained were reportedly children, including two with cancer.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) denied any wrongdoing, stating that agents “do not racially profile or target Americans.”

But Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino was quoted as acknowledging that agents may consider appearance, saying to a reporter: “How do they look compared to, say, you?”

ProPublica cited examples such as Leonardo Garcia Venegas, a construction worker in Alabama, who said agents dismissed his real ID and detained him despite confirming his citizenship, and George Retes, a disabled veteran, who said he was held for three days after a workplace raid in California.

Many of the incidents reviewed reportedly ended without charges being filed. ProPublica said that of the over 170 identified cases, nearly 50 were dismissed or resulted in no prosecution.

Civil rights advocates expressed concern that race-based enforcement practices could affect US citizens.

“Any one of us could be next,” said Cody Wofsy of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The White House told ProPublica that “anyone who assaults law enforcement will be held accountable,” emphasizing that federal agents act “with professionalism to enforce the law and protect American communities.”

ProPublica said its data was compiled from lawsuits, court records and media reports, noting that official statistics on such detentions are not publicly available.

The report adds that large-scale enforcement sweeps have increased in several states, raising debate about oversight and citizens’ constitutional protections.