Immigration Law

DOJ Appoints 42 New Immigration Judges

The Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced the appointment of 42 new immigration judges across 16 states. These appointments are part of an effort to reduce the immigration court backlog, which has seen over 380,000 cases resolved since January 20, 2025.

ICE Lodges Immigration Detainer Against Alien Accused of Murder

ICE has lodged an immigration detainer against Samuel Antonio Maldonado-Erazo, an illegal alien accused of violently abusing and murdering his three-year-old nephew. Maldonado-Erazo was arrested in Florida and ICE intends to remove him upon his release from local custody.

ICE Houston Arrests Criminal Illegal Alien Child Sex Offenders

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston announced the arrest of 414 criminal illegal aliens charged with or convicted of child sex offenses during President Trump's first year in office. This represents a significant increase compared to the previous administration, with the arrested individuals accounting for hundreds of child sex offenses and other crimes.

Syrian National Extradited for Human Smuggling Investigation

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso announced the extradition of a Syrian national, Jalal Maklad Adeeb, to the U.S. to face charges related to a human smuggling operation. Adeeb is accused of leading an international network that smuggled hundreds of individuals into the U.S. for financial gain, collecting approximately $800,000 in fees.

Haitian man facing assault charges died in ICE custody

ICE announced the death of Emanuel Cleeford Damas, an individual facing criminal charges for assault and battery, while in ICE custody in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 2, 2026. Damas had a pending immigration case and was detained under the Lanken Riley Act.

ICE Custody Death Notification: Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the death of Pejman Karshenas Najafabadi, a 59-year-old Iranian national, in ICE custody in Natchez, Mississippi, on March 1, 2026. Najafabadi passed away from cardiac arrest at Merit Health Hospital after receiving medical care for pre-existing conditions. ICE is required to publicize such in-custody death reports.

Visa Restrictions for Undermining Great Lakes Peace

The Department of State has imposed visa restrictions on several senior Rwandan officials for fueling instability in eastern DRC and violating the Washington Accords. This action targets individuals undermining peace in the Great Lakes Region, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Alien Sentenced for Cartel Drug Operation

ICE Homeland Security Investigations announced the sentencing of Baldemar Navarro-Jaimes to nearly 20 years in prison for leading a cartel-linked drug trafficking operation. The investigation dismantled a multistate narcotics network tied to La Familia Michoacana, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs and firearms.

ICE Arrests Guatemalan National for Employing Illegal Aliens

ICE Homeland Security Investigations arrested Brayan Adiel Gramajo Reyes, a Guatemalan national, for allegedly employing illegal aliens and encouraging illegal entry in Idaho. The investigation also uncovered human trafficking elements, with Gramajo accused of exploiting unaccompanied alien children.

ICE Lodges Immigration Detainers on Criminal Aliens Arrested for Manslaughter

ICE Houston has lodged immigration detainers on two individuals arrested for intoxicated manslaughter. The agency highlighted that in the past year, ICE Houston arrested 21 criminal aliens convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and 243 aliens with three or more DWI convictions.