ICE Detains American Citizen Who Voted For Trump, Now He Has Second Thoughts

Not enough people are talking about what ICE has done over the past several weeks.

ICE is actively detaining U.S. citizens during immigration raids across the country — and alarmingly, not enough people are talking about it. Since Donald Trump took office on January 20th, ICE has ramped up its enforcement efforts under the banner of targeting undocumented immigrants.

Before I continue, my work is not funded by billionaires or ad companies. It’s funded by you. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today for access to exclusive lives (the next one will be on Sunday at 8 PM EST) and articles, and to support me (and my coffee intake today):

But in reality, these aggressive tactics have led to the unlawful detention of American citizens, many of whom were simply going about their daily lives when they were profiled, questioned, and handcuffed. These incidents aren’t isolated mistakes — they reflect a dangerous pattern of racial profiling and overreach that is tearing families apart, undermining civil liberties, and leaving even Trump supporters questioning the system they once believed in.

Virginia Trump Supporter Detained Because He Looked Hispanic

Just yesterday, Jensy Machado, a naturalized U.S. citizen and Trump voter, was detained by ICE agents in Manassas, Virginia. On his way to work, Machado was stopped by ICE officers searching for someone else with a deportation order — but because Machado is Hispanic, he became a target. He offered to show his ID to prove his citizenship, but agents ignored him, handcuffed him, and interrogated him about his immigration status.

Only after he insisted on his rights and presented his driver's license did agents release him. The two other men riding with him were taken into custody, though Machado said he has no idea why. The experience has left him shaken and disillusioned. “I voted for Trump last election,” Machado admitted, explaining he once believed immigration enforcement was about removing dangerous criminals. Instead, he found himself treated like a suspect solely because of his ethnicity — a reality countless others face daily.

Disabled Veteran Detained In New Jersey

Last month in Newark, New Jersey, ICE agents stormed Ocean Seafood Depot in a surprise raid that detained both undocumented immigrants and at least one U.S. citizen, a military veteran. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka condemned the operation, revealing that ICE failed to present a warrant and unlawfully detained people who had every right to be there. For many, the detention of a U.S. veteran — someone who risked their life in service of the country — is particularly egregious.

Wisconsin Family Detained For Speaking Spanish

Last month, according to reports, in Milwaukee, a family of U.S. citizens was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while shopping, reportedly targeted simply for speaking Spanish. The family, including two parents and their three children, said ICE officers approached them without cause, questioned their immigration status, and temporarily detained them despite their legal citizenship. Witnesses and advocates condemned the incident as racial profiling, highlighting how ordinary activities like shopping became grounds for harassment under heightened immigration enforcement during Donald Trump's administration.

Democrats Demand Answers

As stories like these continue to surface, lawmakers are beginning to push back. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Pramila Jayapal have formally demanded answers from the Trump administration regarding the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens during ICE operations.

In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Acting ICE Director Caleb Vitello, they requested a full accounting of all enforcement actions involving U.S. citizens since Trump took office. Raskin warned that racial profiling and indiscriminate targeting are not just harming immigrant communities but are also sweeping up innocent Americans. “We’ve already seen cases of racial and ethnic profiling leading to the unlawful detention of U.S. citizens,” Raskin said. “That’s why I’m demanding answers about these profoundly troubling stories.”

These incidents are a warning: under the guise of immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has unleashed a system that disregards civil rights, targets people based on race and language, and has already harmed the very citizens it claims to protect. The question now is how many more Americans will be wrongfully detained before the nation pays attention.