Fact check: Is ICE detaining legal immigrants?

1. Summary of the results

Evidence strongly indicates that ICE is detaining legal immigrants in various contexts. Multiple specific cases have been documented, including:

• An asylum applicant named Zeneyda Barrera Hernandez ^[1]
• A legal migrant in Ohio with a 30-year work history and derivative U visa ^[1]
• A military veteran in Newark, New Jersey ^[1]
• A family with a U.S. citizen child who was detained overnight despite having a stay of removal order ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements need to be considered:

• ICE is conducting targeted operations rather than purely indiscriminate detentions ^[3]
• A significant portion of arrests are "collateral arrests" - people who weren't the primary targets but were found during operations ^[4]
• ICE employs alternative detention methods, including GPS tracking and ankle monitors ^[5]
• There have been widespread protests against these detention practices ^[6]
• Detainees have actively resisted these conditions, as evidenced by a revolt at the Delaney Hall Detention Facility ^[7]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question oversimplifies a complex situation:

• While legal immigrants are being detained, many detentions occur during broader immigration sweeps targeting specific locations ^[3]
• Statistics show that in one operation with 1,200 arrests, approximately half of those detained had no criminal record, suggesting a mix of legal and undocumented individuals ^[4]

Who benefits from different narratives:

• Immigration lawyers and advocacy groups benefit from highlighting cases of legal immigrants being detained, as it demonstrates potential systemic issues
• ICE benefits from emphasizing the "targeted" nature of their operations and alternative detention methods ^{[3] [5]}
• Political actors on both sides can use these incidents to support their immigration policy positions