Civil Rights

ACLU

organization

Filed multiple lawsuits challenging the crackdown. Released surveillance footage proving ICE lied about Mahmoud Khalil's arrest. Challenged Operation Metro Surge for racial profiling. Filed suit against Operation Return to Sender in Kern County for targeting Latino farmworkers.

American citizen detained by ICE agents outside a Walmart store and questioned about his immigration status despite being a US citizen.

Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, a U.S. citizen and ICU nurse at a VA hospital, was shot and killed January 24, 2026, in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood by CBP agents Jesus Ochoa (43) and Raymundo Gutierrez (35), identified by ProPublica. Pretti was filming agents with his phone and stepped between an agent and a woman pushed to the ground. He was pepper-sprayed, wrestled to the ground by ~6 agents, then shot — 10 shots in under five seconds. DHS claimed he had a handgun; multiple bystander videos verified by Reuters showed no weapon. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide. DOJ opened a civil rights investigation. Commander Gregory Bovino's false claim that Pretti planned to "massacre" agents led to Bovino's removal.

Columbia University

organization

Two Columbia students targeted: Mahmoud Khalil (arrested without warrant, detained 104 days) and Mohsen Mahdawi (arrested at citizenship interview). On February 5, 2026, NYPD made 12 arrests outside Columbia during anti-ICE protests.

Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, 24, was shot in the leg by an ICE agent on January 14, 2026, in North Minneapolis. The shooting began as a case of mistaken identity — ICE agents ran plates on a car registered to a different person. After the driver fled and crashed near a duplex where Sosa-Celis was standing, an altercation ensued. His attorney presented photographs of a bullet hole in the front door, claiming Sosa-Celis had already gone inside when shot. FBI testimony indicated no witnesses corroborated the ICE agent's account.

Keith Ellison

person

Minnesota Attorney General who filed a federal lawsuit on January 12, 2026, with the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, against DHS, ICE, CBP, and Secretary Noem. Alleged Minnesota was targeted for its voting habits and political viewpoints, violating the First Amendment and equal sovereignty. Accused the White House of "politics and retribution" and called the crackdown a "cover-up."

On January 24, 2026, CBP agents Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Gutierrez shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, a VA ICU nurse, in Minneapolis's Whittier neighborhood. 10 shots fired in under 5 seconds. Pretti was filming agents. Multiple bystander videos verified by Reuters contradicted DHS claims. Medical examiner ruled homicide. DOJ opened civil rights investigation. Commander Bovino's false "massacre" claim led to his removal.

On January 7, 2026, ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot and killed Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, in Minneapolis during Operation Metro Surge. Ross fired three shots as her car moved forward. Bystander video went viral — 82% of registered voters saw it. Minneapolis Police Chief O'Hara called it "predictable and preventable." Her death directly sparked the Minnesota general strike.

Palestinian lawful permanent resident and Columbia graduate student arrested March 8, 2025, from his Manhattan apartment by ICE agents who entered without a judicial warrant (the government later admitted there was no warrant). ACLU surveillance footage showed Khalil was fully cooperative — contradicting DHS claims he tried to flee. Detained 104 days at LaSalle Detention Center in Jena, Louisiana. Released June 20, 2025, after a judge ruled his detention unconstitutional. Filed a $20 million damages claim in July 2025. In January 2026, an appeals court ruled he can be rearrested. Remains free on bail.

Marimar Martinez, 30, a U.S. citizen, was shot 5 times (7 wounds) by a Border Patrol agent on October 4, 2025, in Chicago during Operation Midway Blitz. She survived and later testified before Congress, telling lawmakers: "My own government attempted to execute me."

On January 23, 2026, the first general strike in the United States in approximately 80 years. Over 50,000 people marched through downtown Minneapolis in temperatures as low as -20°F. 700+ Minnesota businesses closed in solidarity. ~100 clergy arrested at a protest against deportation flights. Unions including SEIU Local 26, UNITE HERE Local 17, CWA Local 7250, and the Minneapolis and St. Paul Federations of Educators endorsed the strike. Bruce Springsteen released "Streets of Minneapolis" on January 28 honoring Good and Pretti — #1 on iTunes in 19 countries.

Mohsen Mahdawi

person

A ten-year legal U.S. resident, Columbia student, and Palestinian refugee camp-born activist. ICE agents arrested him at his U.S. citizenship interview — he was literally at his appointment to become a citizen. The Trump administration argued it could deport him for protest activity. A federal judge ordered his release.

On January 30, 2026, the "National Shutdown" / "ICE Out" brought 300+ protests to cities across the US. Minneapolis remained the epicenter. National partners included Defend Immigrant Families, CAIR, Poor People's Campaign, LA Tenants Union, and student organizations. Actors Pedro Pascal and Hannah Einbinder and rapper Macklemore promoted the strike on social media. Over the weekend (Jan 31-Feb 1), 600+ events attended by tens of thousands. A PBS/Marist poll found 65% of Americans said ICE had gone too far.

Los Angeles-based legal organization that won a federal injunction requiring ICE to provide attorney access to detained individuals.

Ras Baraka

person

Newark Mayor arrested on May 9, 2025, at the Delaney Hall ICE facility along with three Congress members (Reps. Watson Coleman, McIver, Menendez Jr.) while attempting oversight of detained residents. Charged with trespassing. Held approximately 5 hours. On May 21, federal magistrate Judge Espinosa dismissed the charges, calling the arrest "hasty" and "a worrying misstep." On June 3, Baraka filed suit against Alina Habba and the arresting HSI officer for false arrest and malicious prosecution.

Renee Nicole Macklin Good, 37, a U.S. citizen and mother of three, was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on January 7, 2026, during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis. She was in her car when Ross fired three shots as the vehicle moved forward. Federal officials claimed self-defense, saying she "ran him over." Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara called her killing "predictable and preventable." Bystander video went viral — a Quinnipiac poll found 82% of registered voters saw the footage. Her death was the primary catalyst for the Minnesota general strike.

Turkish PhD student at Tufts studying child development. Arrested March 25, 2025, by six masked plainclothes DHS agents in Somerville, Massachusetts, after her F-1 visa was revoked. The apparent basis: co-authoring a March 2024 op-ed in The Tufts Daily calling for divestment from companies tied to Israel. Transported 1,600 miles to South Louisiana ICE Processing Center. Released May 9, 2025, after a judge ruled detention "cannot stand." Has resumed studies but was removed from the international student database, preventing her from working.

Located in Basile, Louisiana. Operated by GEO Group (for-profit). Where Rumeysa Ozturk was detained, 1,600 miles from Tufts. Louisiana holds 7,000+ detainees — 98% in for-profit prisons. In September 2025, DHS expanded detention to Angola Prison (416 beds). In December 2025, a former officer pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a detainee.

Nationwide mobile alert platform with 500,000+ subscribers providing real-time ICE raid notifications. On January 29, 2026, the platform was hacked — database overwritten with an image of Tom Homan. Hackers claimed they sent user data to the FBI. StopICE traced the attack to a CBP agent's personal server in Southern California. DHS subpoenaed Meta to unmask an Instagram account that had identified agents using StopICE data.

Tim Walz

person

Minnesota Governor who demanded Trump remove "untrained" federal immigration agents from the state after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Acting AG Todd Blanche accused Walz of "terrorism." The DOJ reportedly opened an investigation into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Frey.

Tufts University

organization

PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested by six masked agents for co-authoring a student newspaper op-ed. The university condemned the arrest. The incident sparked protests at universities across the country.

Zohran Mamdani

person

New York City elected official who upheld the city's sanctuary laws against federal pressure and organized community defense networks.