Fact check: Have citizens been detained by ICE?

1. Summary of the results

Yes, U.S. citizens have been detained by ICE, as confirmed by multiple documented cases. The analyses reveal several specific instances of wrongful detention:

• Elzon Lemus, Brian Gavidia, and Adrian Martinez were among U.S. citizens detained by ICE agents ^[1]
• Andrea Velez, a U.S. citizen, was wrongfully detained during an immigration raid in Los Angeles and charged with obstructing an arrest ^[2]
• Javier Ramirez was also detained under questionable circumstances ^[1]

The sources indicate that these detentions often occur under questionable circumstances and raise serious concerns about racial profiling and constitutional rights violations ^[1]. ICE currently holds approximately 59,000 detainees in facilities across the country, with nearly half having no criminal record ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the scope and nature of ICE detention practices:

• ICE's primary focus has shifted to deporting anyone without legal status, not just serious criminals ^[4]
• Despite promises to remove the "worst of the worst," ICE has detained only 6% of undocumented immigrants known to have been convicted of homicide and 11% of those convicted of sexual assault ^[4]
• Almost half of people currently in ICE custody have neither been convicted of nor charged with any crime ^[4]

The question also omits the broader enforcement context, where ICE operations include arrests in the interior of the country, not just transfers of migrants who recently crossed the border ^[3]. Additionally, the analyses reveal that non-citizens with legal status are also affected, as evidenced by the death of Johnny Noviello, a Canadian citizen and lawful permanent resident, in ICE custody ^[5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and factual, asking whether citizens have been detained by ICE. However, the framing could be misleading if interpreted to suggest this is the primary purpose of ICE operations, when in fact:

• Citizen detentions appear to be unintended consequences of broader immigration enforcement tactics rather than targeted policy ^[1]
• The vast majority of ICE detainees are non-citizens, with citizen detentions representing exceptional cases that highlight systemic issues with enforcement practices ^{[3] [1]}

The question lacks context about ICE's stated mission versus its actual enforcement patterns, which could lead to misunderstanding about whether citizen detentions are intentional policy or enforcement errors stemming from racial profiling and overly broad tactics ^[1].