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Detention statistics & actual experiences.

This page contains verified data and the real-life stories of some of the families who have been traumatized by the loss of a family provider and the tactics ICE has used to detain and deport them. They're not dramatized. No identifying information is included unless previously published in the media.

Public records & local reporting

Delaware ICE Detention Tracker

A sourced chronology of publicly documented ICE arrests, detentions, transfers and family impacts in Delaware since January 2025.

Methodology: Entries must be supported by court records, police statements, established news reporting, or identified legal/advocacy organizations. Arrest by ICE does not itself establish that a person is undocumented or has committed a crime. Criminal allegations, convictions, family accounts and advocacy claims are distinguished where relevant. Dates are explicitly labeled when only a month, approximate date, publication date, or forum date is publicly available.
687 Delaware ICE arrests in 2025 Statewide total reported by the Deportation Data Project and cited by Cape Gazette in May 2026.
371 Street/community arrests in 2025 Up from 24 in 2024, according to Deportation Data Project figures cited by Cape Gazette.
159 Families supported by Sussex Help Current total displayed by Sussex Help when this tracker was updated in August 2026.
352 Children in supported families Current total displayed by Sussex Help when this tracker was updated in August 2026.
Showing 15 of 15 documented entries
May 31, 2026 · Bear , New Castle County
Exact

Unidentified driver

Turned over to ICE after local traffic stop Confirmed in New Castle County Police statement

A New Castle County Police officer saw a Toyota Tacoma back into an unmarked vehicle displaying emergency lights on Pulaski Highway and then leave. County police stopped the Tacoma. Officers then learned the occupants of the unmarked vehicle were ICE agents conducting an investigation involving the driver. New Castle County Police said they took no further enforcement action and turned the driver and vehicle over to ICE.

Family impact: Unknown

Status/outcome: Driver and vehicle turned over to ICE agents

Sources: New Castle County Police
May 2026 · Undisclosed Delaware location
Month only

Unidentified father

Community arrest involving force Advocacy organization account; identity and town withheld

The ACLU of Delaware described an incident in which ICE agents used a Taser on a father and detained him across from an elementary-school bus stop. Children witnessed the encounter, including the man’s own children, who were inside his vehicle. The ACLU’s public account did not identify him or disclose the town.

Family impact: His children witnessed their father’s detention

Status/outcome: Detained; later outcome not publicly detailed in cited source

Sources: ACLU of Delaware — July 2026 letter
Described at an April 26, 2026 community forum · Undisclosed Sussex County location , Sussex County
Arrest date not publicly disclosed

Unidentified family — both parents detained

Family separation Specific case described publicly by local family-aid organization; identities withheld

Sussex Help co-founder Cait Clarke described a recent case in which both parents were taken by ICE and their children were left behind. A single male neighbor took the children in. The report did not publish the family’s names, town or exact arrest date.

Family impact: Both parents detained; children left with a neighbor

Status/outcome: Outcomes not publicly identified

Sources: Cape Gazette
April 22, 2026 · Lewes , Sussex County
Exact

Two unidentified passengers

Transfer to ICE after traffic stop Police-related reporting; identities not public

Delaware State Police stopped an SUV connected to an earlier Fenwick Island police pursuit. Three people were detained during the stop; CoastTV reported that two passengers were subsequently taken into ICE custody.

Family impact: Unknown

Status/outcome: Two passengers taken into ICE custody

Sources: CoastTV
Around March 20, 2026 · Georgetown , Sussex County
Approximate day stated by court

Alex Hernandez Vicente

Transfer to ICE custody after state arrest Established in federal court opinion

Hernandez Vicente, a Guatemalan construction worker living in Georgetown, was arrested by Delaware police on suspicion of DUI. A state court granted bail, but ICE took him into custody before release and served an administrative Form I-200 warrant. He was transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. A federal judge later ruled that his continued mandatory detention was unlawful and ordered immediate release.

Family impact: Two siblings lived nearby; other family details not public

Status/outcome: Federal court ordered immediate release April 7, 2026

Sources: Hernandez Vicente v. Jamison — federal opinion
March 16, 2026 (ICE proceedings initiated) · Georgetown / Sussex County Correctional Facility , Sussex County
Exact proceeding date

Nahum Santos-Barahona

Transfer into immigration detention from criminal custody Established in federal court record; not a community/street arrest

Santos-Barahona, a Honduran national who said he had lived in the United States since 2013, was interviewed by ICE at Sussex County Correctional Facility after a February 2026 Delaware criminal case. The federal court record states that he is married to a U.S. citizen, has an 8-year-old U.S.-citizen child, and is stepfather to an 11-year-old U.S. citizen and a 13-year-old lawful permanent resident. He was convicted in the Delaware case of second-degree reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child and received a suspended ten-month sentence. ICE initiated removal proceedings March 16. On April 17, a federal judge granted his habeas petition challenging mandatory detention.

Family impact: Married to a U.S. citizen; father/stepfather of three minor children

Status/outcome: Federal habeas petition granted April 17, 2026

Sources: Federal court opinion — GovInfo
March 2, 2026 · Route 1 (Delaware)
Exact

Jorge Mata Mercado

Roadside ICE arrest Established in federal court opinion

Mata Mercado, a native of Mexico who had lived in Delaware since about 2005, was stopped by ICE while driving on Route 1 in Delaware and taken to the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia. A federal court found that both the Notice to Appear and ICE arrest warrant filed in his removal matter incorrectly identified another individual. He was transferred to Moshannon Valley Processing Center. On March 12, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania held that his detention without a bond hearing violated the Immigration and Nationality Act and due process and ordered his immediate release.

Family impact: Husband and father of three U.S.-born children detained

Status/outcome: Federal judge ordered immediate release March 12, 2026

Sources: Mata Mercado v. Jamison — federal opinion
February 4, 2026 · Georgetown , Sussex County
Exact

Raúl Tapia

Roadside/community arrest Named case; circumstances of arrest primarily from family account

Tapia was detained while driving to work with his adult son Dante. His family told CoastTV that three unmarked vehicles surrounded their van and that masked agents broke windows before removing the men. Dante, a U.S. citizen, was released; Raúl was taken into ICE custody. CoastTV reported that Delaware court records showed no criminal history for Raúl.

Family impact: Father and husband detained beside his adult son

Status/outcome: Taken into ICE custody

Sources: CoastTV
November 2025 · Seaford , Sussex County
Month only

Carlos Chaj-Gonzalez

ICE arrest attempt / local police assistance Incident documented; legal concerns characterized by ACLU of Delaware

ICE sought to detain Chaj-Gonzalez near Seaford. He fled and hid beneath a trailer. Seaford Police and Delaware State Police responded to ICE’s request for assistance. The ACLU of Delaware later raised questions about the incident, including whether ICE had a judicial warrant.

Family impact: Not publicly detailed

Status/outcome: Detention incident; later immigration outcome not established in cited material

Sources: ACLU of Delaware WHYY follow-up
Reported October 19, 2025 · Millsboro , Sussex County
Publication date; arrest date not specified

José (surname withheld)

ICE check-in arrest Family account reported by CoastTV

José was detained after attending what his family described as a routine ICE appointment. His partner María said ICE told him paperwork from his 2022 entry was missing, but she said officials did not identify which documents when José asked.

Family impact: Partner and child remained in Delaware

Status/outcome: Held in ICE processing center awaiting immigration proceedings when reported

Sources: CoastTV
September 22, 2025 · Seaford , Sussex County
Exact

Victor Acurio Suárez

Community arrest Named case documented by local and regional reporting

Acurio Suárez, a 52-year-old Ecuadorian resident with developmental disabilities and aphasia, was arrested in a Lowe’s parking lot in Seaford after approaching an ICE agent. Reporting says he apparently believed the agent might help him find work. He had applied for asylum after arriving in 2021. He remained in detention for months; Gov. Matt Meyer publicly called for his release. In January 2026, an immigration judge ordered him to return to Ecuador.

Family impact: Separated from brother/caregiver

Status/outcome: Detained for months; immigration judge later ordered return to Ecuador

Sources: Philadelphia Inquirer Spotlight Delaware — detention Spotlight Delaware — ruling
June 2025 · Laurel , Sussex County
Month only

Unidentified man

Work-area arrest Video/report verified by Spotlight Delaware; exact arrest date not published

Spotlight Delaware later reported and verified video showing federal immigration agents arresting a man beside his work van outside the Route 13 Outlet Market in Laurel. The man’s identity and final disposition were not published in the report.

Family impact: Unknown

Status/outcome: Detained; outcome not publicly reported

Sources: Spotlight Delaware
June 3, 2025 · Georgetown , Sussex County
Exact

Unidentified fugitive

ICE operation Confirmed by Georgetown Police

ICE conducted a fugitive apprehension operation in Georgetown targeting an individual whom Georgetown Police said had an existing criminal arrest warrant. Georgetown Police said they did not participate and were not asked to assist. The operation ended with the individual in custody.

Family impact: Unknown

Status/outcome: Taken into custody

Sources: CoastTV Eastern Shore Undercover
March 2025 · Undisclosed Sussex County location , Sussex County
Month only

“Isabela” (pseudonym)

Home arrest / collateral arrest Detailed investigative reporting; some arrest details are based on Isabela’s account

A mother of two and survivor of domestic violence was arrested at her home while ICE agents were looking for her brother. Spotlight Delaware reported that she had deferred action tied to a pending U-visa application and no criminal history. She was moved through Maryland and ultimately detained in Louisiana. Her children remained behind in Delaware. Delaware legal advocates and the Attorney General’s office intervened, and she was released and returned to Delaware.

Family impact: Mother of two arrested in front of her children

Status/outcome: Released after about one month in ICE custody

Sources: Spotlight Delaware investigation Spotlight Delaware interview
February 4, 2025 · Georgetown , Sussex County
Exact

Unidentified detainee(s)

ICE operation Confirmed operation; individual details undisclosed

ICE conducted a fugitive apprehension operation at a residence in Georgetown. Georgetown Police confirmed the operation and said ICE notified the department in advance, but local police did not participate. Public reporting did not disclose the identity or final number of people detained.

Family impact: Unknown

Status/outcome: Detained; outcome not publicly reported

Sources: Delaware Public Media Spotlight Delaware 47ABC

Last structured update: August 25, 2026. This is not an official government roster and is not a complete list of Delaware ICE arrests. Many detainees are never publicly identified. Aggregate arrest totals and individually documented case entries are deliberately kept separate.

— Family #1

Isabella

Two brothers moved their families from Florida to Laurel, DE to escape ICE activity, and for work someone told them was available and would allow them to feed their families. Both had valid work permits. They bought trailers in a trailer park that carried lot rent. They started work with a local contractor remodeling homes.

Within two weeks, both brothers were taken on the way to work, leaving behind two mothers and five children with no food or warm clothes, and lot rent due.

Sussex Help provided the mother and children with food, clothing, and toys and books for the children. Lot rent and utilities were covered for the next month, and the mother is receiving coaching on budgeting, job seeking, and a plan to get back on their feet and independent.

— Family #2

Alejandro

A 19-year-old man with a valid work permit, who planned to marry within the month, was taken on his way to work. ICE told him they “did not care” that his work permit is valid until 2029. They took him to Dover, DE, where they refused to let visitors check on him.

Alejandro had been taking care of his father, who had cancer. ICE sent Alejandro out of the state that day. Sussex Help arranged for a habeas petition to be filed in the state to which ICE had taken him. The man with legal documents was finally released after five weeks, and is now back at work and supporting his family.

— Family #3

Emma & Valentina

Two women with six children were left behind when both their husbands were detained together on their way to work. Neither mother spoke English, and they had nothing.

They moved in together to save on rent and utilities. It was winter, and they kept the house at 65°. They had very little: no food or water, no diapers or baby formula, and no warm clothing for the children. Sussex Help provided food, water, clothing, diapers, baby formula, and transportation, as well as coaching to regain their independence.

One of the young women self deported. Her 15-month-old son is a United States citizen with a passport. Under the rules of self-deportation, the mother will never be allowed to return the US again, even though her son is American.

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