These Women Were Trying to Escape Domestic Abuse. ICE Detained Them Instead.

The briefing

Immigrant women who called the police to report domestic abuse are increasingly being turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detained, undermining protections established under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). ProPublica investigated cases across the country where victims were arrested, often due to mandatory arrest laws or chaotic domestic disputes, and subsequently placed in detention facilities like North Lake in Michigan. This aggressive enforcement under the Trump administration has instilled widespread fear, discouraging victims from seeking help or reporting crimes to local law enforcement.