How American Kids Have Been Collateral Damage in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

ProPublica
by Nicole Foy
March 24, 2026
5 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Over 170 U.S. citizens, including at least 20 children, were detained by immigration agents during Trump administration enforcement operations, with some subjected to physical force.

How This Affects You

If you have mixed-status family members or live in immigrant communities, your U.S. citizen children could be detained, deported, or physically harmed during immigration enforcement sweeps, as documented in 128 cases compiled by Congress.

AI Summary

House and Senate Democrats are holding a forum Tuesday to highlight American children detained and, in some cases, deported during Trump administration immigration enforcement operations. ProPublica's investigation documented that more than 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration agents, including at least 20 children ranging from toddlers to teens, with some subjected to chokeholds, gun-pointing, and zip-ties. The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and House Committee on Oversight compiled 128 cases of children injured or traumatized during Department of Homeland Security enforcement operations. Witnesses testifying include 18-year-old Fernando Hernàndez Garcia, whose 11-year-old citizen sister was deported to Mexico while seeking cancer treatment, and 16-year-old Arnoldo Bazan, who was tackled and choked by agents while they pursued his undocumented father. The Trump administration has repeatedly denied that American citizens are caught in immigration enforcement sweeps, with DHS claiming allegations of agent misconduct are "FALSE."

What's Being Done

Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and House Committee on Oversight are holding a forum and taking testimony from affected families to review documented cases.

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