In August, Jemmy Jimenez Rosa, a lawful permanent resident of the United States since childhood, was detained by a Customs and Border Protection officer upon returning to Boston Logan Airport from a family vacation in Cancún, Mexico. Despite her legal status and recent renewal of her green card, Ms. Rosa was taken to a detention cell without clear communication regarding her situation, leaving her husband and American citizen daughters distressed. This incident is part of a broader pattern where individuals legally residing in the U.S. face detention by ICE, often treated as if they were violent criminals despite having no recent criminal records. Detainees report being confined in small cells, dressed in prison uniforms, and subjected to restraints during transfers, with detention periods ranging from 10 to over 70 days, leading to significant emotional distress.

In a related development, ICE faced scrutiny after a system crash resulted in the loss of two weeks of video footage from the Broadview Detention Center near Chicago, just one day after the facility was sued for alleged abuse of detainees. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the footage was 'irretrievably destroyed' and cited resource limitations for not preserving surveillance data. This incident has raised questions about the agency's transparency and accountability, especially given the substantial funding allocated to ICE, which exceeds $200 billion, surpassing the military budgets of some nations. Legal actions against ICE have become a primary means for addressing grievances related to immigration enforcement practices, which have faced criticism for their legality and ethical implications.

Additionally, on November 9, 2023, ICE agents apprehended Akhror Bozorov, a 31-year-old from Uzbekistan, while he was working as a commercial truck driver in Kansas. Bozorov, who entered the U.S. through the southern border in February 2023, had been granted a Commercial Driver’s License by Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation after receiving a work permit from the Biden administration. He is wanted in Uzbekistan for alleged ties to a terrorist organization. This case has prompted criticism from officials regarding the implications of immigration policies that may inadvertently allow individuals with violent backgrounds to enter the workforce, raising national security concerns.

These incidents collectively highlight ongoing issues within immigration enforcement practices, including the treatment of legal residents and the need for greater accountability and oversight within ICE.