ICE Misconduct and Brutality Attorneys for US Citizens and Permanent Residents

In recent months, there has been a dramatic rise in reports of U.S. citizens being unlawfully detained, assaulted, and mistreated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Much of this abuse occurs at detention facilities. According to one report by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), “Immigration detention facilities across California are plagued by severe and ongoing human rights abuse. [People at these facilities have faced] hazardous living conditions, medical neglect, harassment, sleep deprivation, abuse of solitary confinement, and sexual assault.” In many situations, there is widespread mistreatment long before any person is ever sent to an immigration detention facility.

American citizens have been rounded up and detained in increasingly aggressive and frequent raids. Statistics released by the White House reveal that ICE recorded more than 2,000 daily arrests in June, 2025. This is up from roughly 300 daily arrests during the Biden administration. Certain parts of Los Angeles and Southern California have reportedly become ghost towns as legal residents and U.S. citizens fear being harassed or detained by ICE officials. If you or someone that you love who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident has been the victim of misconduct or brutality involving ICE agents, legal help is available. Our team of civil rights attorneys at the Carrillo Law Firm is here for you. We have decades of experience holding law enforcement accountable for their illegal and unconstitutional actions. We can investigate the unique facts of your case and let you know if you have a claim that can be pursued. You can contact us anytime for a risk-free case evaluation at 626-799-9375.

Common Civil Rights Violations by ICE Agents

All Americans have rights under the Constitution that must be respected by ICE and other law enforcement agencies. U.S. citizens cannot be detained or searched without reasonable suspicion of a crime or probable cause. The Fourth Amendment protects against all instances of unlawful searches and seizures. All people accused of a crime are guaranteed due process and equal protection under the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Despite these protections, there are still many common civil rights violations by ICE agents.

• Unlawful Detention: ICE agents may hold U.S. citizens or legal residents without due process or probable cause of a crime.
• Mistaken Identity: ICE agents may have detained individuals based on faulty assumptions about their immigration status.
• Excessive Force: ICE agents may have used physical violence or aggressive arrest tactics without legal justification.
• Racial Profiling: ICE agents may have targeted individuals primarily on their skin color or ethnic background.
• Denial of Medical Care: ICE agents may have shown deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of detainees.

With ICE continuing to ramp up immigration enforcement, it is imperative that the constitutional rights of Americans are respected in the process. Americans who are unhappy with the actions of ICE have a legal right to protest and film what they see. But even these fundamental rights have come under fire. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are able to hold ICE accountable for their misconduct through civil actions.

ICE Misconduct and Brutality in the News

Much of the abuse and misconduct involving ICE officials has been undocumented or taken place behind closed doors. What follows are just a few examples of misconduct documented within recent months.

• A 32-year-old graduate of Cal Poly Pomona and U.S. citizen identified as Andrea Velez was forcefully arrested and detained by ICE during an immigration raid in downtown Los Angeles. Her family was unaware of her whereabouts for more than a day. The Carrillo Law Firm is representing her.
• Jason Brian Gavidia, also an American citizen, was detained by armed border patrol agents who approached him in an unmarked vehicle. Video of the encounter shows agents forcefully twisting his arm and interrogating him about his birth location.
• Cary López Alvarado is an American citizen and 9 months pregnant when she was forcefully arrested by ICE agents. She began experiencing sharp pains in her stomach and was hospitalized following the ordeal.

All of these incidents highlight major issues with how ICE has undertaken their job duties. They also reveal a significant need for legal accountability. Accountability for misconduct is a critical component of preventing it from becoming more widespread.

Common Injuries Involving Misconduct and Brutality by ICE Agents

Mistreatment and brutality involving ICE agents can result in lasting injuries. These injuries routinely leave victims with high medical bills and may impair their ability to work. What follows are just a few of the possible injuries from ICE misconduct and brutality.

• Broken Bones: People have been thrown to the ground and forcibly restrained. This can easily lead to fractures in a person’s arms, wrists, and chest.
• Head Injuries: Another common form of trauma is head injuries. This is particularly true if ICE agents punch or kick the people they are trying to restrain.
• Worsening Medical Conditions: Every person has a different set of medical needs. If ICE agents fail to provide adequate medical treatment to the people they are detaining, this could lead to serious medical complications or even death.
• Heat Exhaustion: Detainees are at risk of heat exhaustion or dehydration, especially in the makeshift facilities that ICE has erected to temporarily hold as many people as possible.
• Sprains: The force of being tackled, slammed, or shoved can do serious damage to a person’s joints and ligaments.

Even if a person makes a complete physical recovery after being detained by ICE, these experiences are often highly traumatizing. It is common for people who have been abused or wrongfully detained by law enforcement to experience psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What to Do After Civil Rights Violations 

It can be hard to know where to begin for any person who has been harmed or illegally detained by ICE agents. People are routinely physically and psychologically scarred by these experiences. United States citizens and permanent residents who have their rights violated are able to seek justice. Below are a few steps that you can take to help protect your rights.

• Seek Medical Attention: Document any physical or psychological injuries that you sustain as a result of what you’ve gone through.
• Gather Evidence: Collect the names, badge numbers, and witness statements related to the incident.
• Don’t Sign Anything: Don’t sign anything given by ICE agents without fully understanding it or going over it with a lawyer.
• Document the Incident: It is important to document your experience to the best of your ability while everything is still fresh in your mind.
• Contact an Attorney: Speak with an attorney as soon as possible. They can conduct a risk-free case evaluation and let you know what your legal options are.

There is a tremendous peace of mind that comes with having an experienced civil rights attorney fight on your behalf. They can handle all aspects of your case and hold the individuals and institutions that harmed you fully accountable.

Why You Should Hire The Carrillo Law Firm

The Carrillo Law Firm specializes in civil rights claims involving misconduct and brutality by law enforcement officials. We are fierce advocates of the constitution and ensuring that the rights of all people are upheld under the law. Here are just a few reasons that you should strongly consider hiring our attorneys to represent you.

• Experience: Our attorneys have decades of experience helping people pursue excessive force and civil rights claims against law enforcement. When you actually want to win a legal claim against large cities, counties, or the federal government, experience matters.
• Investigation Skills: Our attorneys can gather all of the critical evidence to help make your case as strong as possible. This includes surveillance footage, body cam videos, photos, and internal ICE records.
• Track Record: Our attorneys have consistently achieved some of the highest verdicts and settlements for civil rights claims in California. This includes a $13.5 million verdict after a man died from being restrained by LAPD officers. We also achieved a $24 million settlement for the family of a man who died due to the excessive force of California Highway Patrol officers.
• Maximizing Compensation: Our attorneys will do everything in their power to help get you the most compensation possible for the physical, emotional, and financial harm you’ve suffered. If insurance providers are not willing to offer a fair settlement, we are more than prepared to take every claim to court.

Another key advantage to hiring our law firm is that we do not charge anything up front for pursuing claims against ICE or other law enforcement agencies. We get paid entirely from the opposing party if we are able to successfully resolve your claim.

Getting Legal Help After ICE Civil Rights Violations

As immigration efforts continue to ramp up and abuse involving ICE agents becomes more frequent, it is imperative that victims seek legal guidance. Law enforcement agencies have demonstrated time and again that they will not hold themselves accountable when they violate people’s constitutional rights. This is where we can help. We specialize in civil rights and police abuse cases and will use that experience to get you the justice and support that you deserve.

If you are a United States citizen or permanent resident and have been the victim of misconduct or brutality by ICE agents, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of Los Angeles County civil rights attorneys at the Carrillo Law Firm will do everything in their power to get the best outcome for your case. We can help you better understand your legal options and take tangible steps to ensure that your rights are being protected. For more information or to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable attorneys, please give us a call at 626-799-9375.