#WitnessTheDisappeared #RiseUp #MayDay
#SocialJustice #CreativeR3volution
This campaign is about keeping front of mind those who have been detained, incarcerated, and “disappeared” since Trump took office. I’ve started a running list (below) and try to update it every few days.
Between MAY 1 – MAY 30 your C.A.R/E. task is to feature, highlight, draw attention to these individuals by any creative means, including but not limited to:
*writing stories, songs, or poems about them and these acts of injustice
*writing detailed profile dives into any particular individual
*creating visual art featuring their plight (example: collages of faces, news headlines, or other visuals)
*or, simply passing along the information on social media
On MAY 30 I will be reading the entire list live on Facebook starting at 9 AM PST. You may drop in at https://www.facebook.com/danika.dinsmore (where I also keep my most updated list on public display.
UPDATED May 13, 2025
If you know of others or have updates please leave a comment on the contact form OR under my Facebook post.
Abrego Garcia, Kilmar
March 2025
Legal U.S. resident deported to El Salvador despite court order protecting him from removal. Trump administration has resisted efforts to facilitate his return.
Currently imprisoned in El Salvador; U.S. courts have ordered his return, but the administration has not complied
Alawieh, Rasha
March 2025
Lebanese nephrologist and assistant professor at Brown University denied re-entry to U.S. despite holdingvalid H-1B visa and court order blocking her expulsion.
Deported to Lebanon.
Alvarado Borges, Neri Jose
March 15, 2025
An asylum seeker from Texas detained due to misunderstanding involving an autism awareness tattoo.
Status currently unclear, but likely detained in the CECOT prison.
Bautista, Olivia
April 18, 2025
8-year-old U.S. citizen detained alongside undocumented aunt during ICE workplace raid in Phoenix. Despite presenting proof of citizenship, was held for 16 hours in a CBP holding facility.
Released on April 19, 2025, after legal intervention.
Blaise, Marie Ange
Feb 12, 2025
44-year-old Haitian woman detained by CBP at airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands, issued a Notice of Expedited Removal, transferred to ICE custody in Puerto Rico. Moved to Richwood Correctional Center in Louisiana, then later to Broward Transitional Center on April 5.
Died in custody on April 25 after complaining of chest pains
Burke, Rebecca
March 2025
Welsh tourist detained by ICE after being denied entry into Canada.
Released after 19 days in detention on March 25, 2025
Doroudi, Alireza
March 2025
Mechanical engineering doctoral student at the University of Alabama detained by ICE under unclear circumstances.
Currently detained, bond hearing recently denied.
Escalona Hernandez, Jeferson Daniel
March 2025
Former Venezuelan police officer detained at Bluebonnet Detention Center. Accused of gang affiliation with no evidence presented. Participated in “SOS” formation protest with other detainees due to fears of deportation to El Salvador’s CECOT prison..
Currently detained; deportation temporarily halted by Supreme Court ruling.
Gutiérrez, Merwil
March 15, 2025
19-year-old asylum seeker from Venezuela mistakenly detained in New York City and deported to El Salvador.
Currently detained in El Salvador.
Hermacillo, Jose
April 8, 2025
19-year-old U.S. citizen (born in the U.S.) from Albuquerque was arrested while visiting Tucson. Border patrol lied about where picked him up.
Released after 10 days in detention
Hernández Romero, Andry José
March 2025
Venezuelan makeup artist and asylum seeker deported to maximum-security prison in El Salvador due to tattoos misidentified as gang symbols.
Currently imprisoned in El Salvador; his family and attorneys are advocating for his release
Khalil, Mahmoud
March 2025
Palestinian student activist and permanent U.S. resident detained by ICE at his university-owned apartment following orders to revoke his green card.
Currently detained; attorney filed a habeas corpus petition challenging the legality of his detention
UPDATE: federal judge blocked deportation, and lawsuit challenging the legality of his detention is proceeding in New Jersey.
Lopez Gomez, Juan Carlos
April 16, 2025
U.S. citizen arrested in Florida despite being born in the U.S. His mother presented his birth certificate, leading the judge to dismiss charges.
Released after 2 days in detention on April 18
Mahdawi, Mohsen
April 14, 2025
Palestinian legal U.S. resident and Columbia University student arrested by ICE at Vermont immigration office where he expected a citizenship interview.
Current status: federal judge ordered release on April 30, freed on bail while habeas corpus petition is reviewed.
Mendez, Juan Francisco
April 14, 2025
29-year-old Guatemalan man detained while going to dentist. Agents smashed his car window and forcibly removed him. His wife (who filmed the incident) and son already have asylum status. (Agents reportedly searching for someone else)
Currently detained at a facility in Dover, New Hampshire
Millan, Diover
March 2025
Venezuelan migrant detained at Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas. Accused of gang affiliation without evidence. Participated in an “SOS” formation to protest conditions.
Deportation temporarily halted by Supreme Court ruling.
Mooney, Jasmine
March 3, 2025
Canadian actress and entrepreneur detained by ICE while attempting to renew her U.S. work visa at the San Ysidro border crossing.
Released after 12 days in detention on March 15, 2025
Muñoz, Camila
February 2025
Peruvian woman married to a U.S. citizen detained by ICE despite having no criminal record.
Released after 49 days in detention on April 4, 2025
Ozturk, Rumeysa
March 25, 2025
A Tufts University doctoral student detained after her visa was revoked over unsubstantiated claims of supporting Hamas.
Currently detained in Louisiana, awaiting court proceedings.
Paredes, Alessandro
April 2025
19-year-old Venezuelan migrant detained at Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas, facing deportation. Supreme Court temporarily blocked removal. Alleges was coerced to falsely label himself gang member.
Currently detained; deportation temporarily halted by court order.
Petrova, Kseniia
February 16, 2025
Russian scientist with Harvard Medical School detained by ICE after returning from France. Authorities revoked visa. Petrova fears persecution in Russia due to anti-Putin activism.
Currently detained in a Louisiana facility, awaiting an asylum hearing.
Reyes Barrios, Jerce
March 15, 2025
Former professional soccer player from Venezuela deported based on misinterpreted tattoo and hand gestures
Currently held in El Salvador’s CECOT prison.
Sales-Luis, Ismael
April 16, 2025
Passenger in the same car as Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez was arrested and charged with entering Florida as an “unauthorized alien.”
Currently detained; status pending
Sales-Perez, Estiven
April 16, 2025
Driver of car carrying Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez charged with entering Florida as an “unauthorized alien” and driving without a license.
Currently detained; status pending
Schmidt, Fabian
March 2025
German legal permanent resident detained at Boston Logan International Airport
Status unclear; may have been deported or facing deportation proceedings.
Sielaff, Lucas
February 2025
German tourist detained at U.S.-Mexico border after returning from trip with his American fiancée. Fiancee (a U.S. Citizen) chained to a bench by border agents while Sielaff was interrogated.
Deported to Germany after 17 days when there was diplomatic intervention
Suárez Trejo, Arturo
March 15, 2025
33-year-old musician from Venezuela deported to El Salvador without explanation
Currently held in El Salvador’s CECOT
Suri, Badar Khan
March 17, 2025
A postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown detained due to alleged links to Hamas. Family, colleagues have contested the claims.
Currently detained, with ongoing protests for his release.
Taal, Momodou
March 2025
British Ph.D. candidate at Cornell visited by ICE agents after pro-Palestinian protests. Previously filed lawsuit against Trump administration to block deportation of international students for protesting.
Facing potential deportation; legal proceedings ongoing.
Ward, Cliona
April 21, 2025
54-year-old Irish legal U.S. resident living in Santa Cruz, for over 30 years, detained ICE upon returning from Ireland. Despite holding valid green card, taken into custody due 20-year-old drug (expunged) possession conviction.
Currently held at Northwest Detention Centre in Tacoma, Washington.
Zapata Velázquez, Felipe
March 28, 2025
27-year-old Colombian student at University of Florida. Arrested following traffic stop, detained at Krome Detention Center in Miami-Dade.
Chose to return to Colombia (April 6) rather than face prolonged detention awaiting immigration proceedings; activism-related protests ongoing.
Unnamed Coast Guard Spouse
April 24, 2025
Wife of active-duty U.S. Coast Guardsman arrested at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Key West after routine security check revealed an expired work visa.
Currently in custody; name and nationality not disclosed
Unnamed Couple
February 2025
Married couple, both pastors, holding 10-year U.S. work visas
inadvertently entered lane leading to Mexican border. Detained by CBP agents.
No information on current status.
Unnamed Mother and Children
March 27, 2025
Mother and her three children, including a third grader, detained by ICE during a raid in Sackets Harbor, New York.
Released after public outcry after 10 days in detention on April 6.
Unnamed U.S. Citizen Children (3) and mother
March 2025
Three U.S. citizen children, including one with cancer, deported without access to legal counsel. Mother wanted to arrange for kids to stay
Deported, the child without their medication.
Unnamed Venezuelans
April 2025
Group of Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas. Set for deportation, but temporarily halted by Supreme Court due to concerns over lack of judicial review and due process.
Deportations pending further review.
Unnamed Venezuelans and Salvadorans
March–April 2025
230 migrants, mostly Venezuelans and Salvadorans, deported to El Salvador. Many falsely labeled gang members. CBS investigation found 179 had no criminal charges.
Currently held in El Salvador’s CECOT; deportations challenged in federal court.