Weekly immigration news: ICE continues deportations and causes trauma to children
Key Takeaways
- It has been reported that a Deportation Data Project analysis shows ICE detentions have surged under the Trump administration, with detentions rising roughly 4.4 times and deportations increasing fivefold.
- It has been reported that transfers from jails/prisons and the expansion of 287(g) local enforcement agreements have contributed to the rise in arrests between January 2025 and March 2026.
- It has been reported that ICE detained more than 6,200 children during the second term, with the daily average rising from about 24 under the previous administration to 226 after family detention was reactivated.
- The high-profile case of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos — whose parents say he is now in therapy after detention — highlights the human and mental-health consequences of renewed family detention; his asylum claim was reportedly denied and the government appealed his release.
Surge in detentions and the enforcement shift
It has been reported that a new Deportation Data Project report documents a sharp rise in ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) activity since the reorientation of enforcement policy in 2025. According to those findings, overall ICE detentions increased roughly 4.4 times and deportations quintupled relative to prior years. The report also notes a notable expansion of arrests beyond street encounters to include courts and even ICE offices — a shift that legal advocates call a new enforcement pattern. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) leadership changes and policy reversals are cited as a backdrop to this renewal of aggressive enforcement.
Role of 287(g) agreements and the toll on children
The report attributes part of the rise to increased transfers from local jails and prisons under 287(g) agreements — arrangements that authorize some state and local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement functions in partnership with ICE. It has been reported that 1,501 new or expanded 287(g) agreements were recorded from January 2025 through March 2026, contributing to increased detention flows. Separately, it has been reported that the Marshall Project found ICE detained over 6,200 children during the president’s second term, and that the average daily number of minors in custody rose from about 24 to 226 after family detention was reactivated. Advocates and clinicians warn that detention conditions, limited medical and educational services, and the experience of forced family separation are producing long-term trauma for many children.
The human story: Liam Conejo Ramos and legal fallout
The case of five‑year‑old Liam Conejo Ramos has become emblematic. It has been reported that after his family’s detention in Minnesota and transfer to a Texas facility, Congressman Joaquín Castro intervened and the family was released; Liam’s parents say the boy is now in psychological therapy and remains fearful. It has been reported that the government rejected the family’s asylum petition and has appealed the court decision that led to their release. Such litigation is likely to continue, illustrating the dual tracks many families face: swift enforcement actions in the field and protracted legal fights in federal court over custody, asylum claims, and detention legality.
What this means for people navigating the system now
For immigrants and advocates the practical implications are immediate. Expect higher enforcement risk on the streets, in courthouses and at detention intake points; family units seeking asylum may again face detention; and local 287(g) partnerships can increase exposure to immigration enforcement even in areas that previously felt safer. Legal representation matters more than ever — attorneys can challenge detention, file asylum claims, and seek release through bond and habeas proceedings — and mental‑health supports are essential for children and parents who experience detention. Policy battles and court decisions will determine whether these enforcement trends persist, so families and attorneys should monitor local enforcement practices and ongoing litigation closely.
Source: Original Article