U.S. Citizens Being Swept Up in ICE Arrests - "We’re Now a Country Where You Have to Bring Your Papers"

Baking AI
Nov 19
3 min read

U.S. Citizens Affected by Trump Immigration

During the Trump administration, immigration enforcement expanded in scope and intensity. While the stated focus was on noncitizens without lawful status, the effects reached further. Some U.S. citizens experienced questioning, detention, delayed entry, family separation, and barriers to basic rights because of mistaken identity, profiling, documentation errors, or association with noncitizen family members.

This blog explains how U.S. citizens were impacted, where the system failed, and what legal options and safeguards are available today.

U.S. citizen being questioned by immigration officers during heightened enforcement period

How U.S. citizens were affected

These issues were not limited to border areas. They occurred at airports, in local communities, during traffic stops, and through database errors.

Common situations included:

Wrongful detention due to mistaken identity.
Being questioned during immigration raids despite U.S. citizenship.
Barriers to re-entering the U.S. without immediate proof of status.
Family separation due to a spouse or parent being detained.
Delays in issuing or replacing U.S. passports.
Increased scrutiny for naturalized citizens or citizens with foreign-born parents.

Some citizens were held for hours or days while authorities attempted to verify their status. Others were pressured to prove their birth in the United States. These situations often occurred without access to legal counsel for long periods.

Why this happened

Several policy shifts and enforcement tools contributed:

Expanded use of immigration databases with errors.
Increased cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies.
Aggressive workplace and neighborhood raids.
Racial and ethnic profiling.
Strict entry screenings at airports and borders.

These decisions increased speed and volume of enforcement but reduced safeguards. Mistakes were not uncommon.

How this impacted families

Even when the citizen was eventually released, their noncitizen family members often remained in detention or removal proceedings. This affected many households that had ongoing applications with USCIS such as:

Some families lost financial stability or housing during the process. Children who were U.S. citizens were left without a parent or caregiver.

Real risks for naturalized citizens

Naturalized citizens faced heightened fear due to government reviews of old applications. In some cases, denaturalization proceedings were opened if USCIS believed a mistake or misrepresentation occurred in the past.

This created uncertainty and stress for people who already completed the legal process to earn citizenship. If you are a naturalized citizen and have questions about your status, guidance related to U.S. Citizenship & Naturalization is important.

Related immigration consequences

Although these events involved citizens, they often triggered issues linked to:

Green Card applications for spouses or children.
Asylum cases put on hold due to family separation.
Applications for U Visa or T Visa after victims reported unlawful detention.
Protection through VAWA for those experiencing abuse connected to immigration control.
Relief for minors through SIJ after a parent was detained or deported.

Each of these paths requires careful legal handling.

What U.S. citizens should do to protect themselves

If you are concerned about wrongful detention or questioning:

Carry proof of citizenship when traveling or crossing checkpoints
Keep digital and hard copies of your passport or birth certificate
Store immigration paperwork for family members in a safe place
Know the right to remain silent until a lawyer is present
Ask for legal representation immediately if detained

If you have been wrongly stopped or held, document everything. Names, dates, locations, badge numbers if possible, and witness details are crucial.

What if your family member is detained

If a noncitizen family member is taken into custody:

Contact an immigration attorney immediately.
Get the detainee’s Alien Number.
Locate the detention centre.
Avoid sharing unverified information with officers.
Do not sign documents without legal review.

You may be able to file petitions, waivers, or emergency relief depending on the person’s status.

How T.P.L. Global can support you

T.P.L. Global supports U.S. citizens and noncitizens facing immigration barriers, wrongful targeting, or family separation. Led by Attorney Tejas G. Patel, the firm protects client rights and manages complex cases involving.

Services include: