Immigration arrests are continuing across several states following the November 3 midterm elections, with federal agents detaining people at airports, on highways and during scheduled immigration appointments. The operations are proceeding despite President Donald Trump’s recent acknowledgment that his administration’s immigration crackdown may have been too aggressive.
The enforcement activity presents a contrast between the president’s suggestion that he is open to negotiating immigration policy with Democrats and the position of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who has publicly stated that deportations will continue. Reports from California, Arizona, Alabama and Florida provide a closer look at how the policy is affecting individuals and families.
California: A Hospital, an Immigration Appointment and an Eight-Year-Old Boy
Federal immigration officers gathered outside Adventist Health White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles on November 7, drawing concern from residents who feared an enforcement operation at the hospital. Federal prosecutor Bill Essayli said the officers were transporting a detainee for medical care, while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintained that hospitals are not enforcement targets. In San Diego, a separate case involved an eight-year-old Haitian student taken into custody after his uncle brought him to a scheduled immigration appointment on November 4. The San Diego Unified School District subsequently appealed to federal officials over the child’s detention and its effect on his education.
Alabama: Two College Soccer Players Detained
Twin brothers Luis and Carlos Orta-Santoro, both 19, were detained while returning to college after visiting their parents. The Venezuelan students attend Wallace State Community College, where they play soccer. Their relatives say they have pending asylum applications and valid employment authorization. DHS maintains that the brothers overstayed their permitted period in the United States and says their immigration case will be reviewed by a judge. Their school has expressed hope for a favorable resolution.
Arizona: A Funeral Trip Ends in Detention
Gustavo Romanello and Agustin Baccega, a married couple from Argentina who had been living in Florida, were detained at Phoenix’s airport on November 7 while traveling to attend a funeral. A family friend says both men had employment authorization and pending asylum cases. Their detention highlights the distinction between permission to work while an immigration application is pending and a legally recognized immigration status.
Florida: Arrests Continue During Everyday Activities
In South Florida, immigration advocates report that arrests have continued at supermarkets, gas stations, pharmacies and during routine immigration check-ins. María Bilbao of the American Friends Service Committee says her organization has received daily reports of people being detained since the election. The accounts suggest that enforcement is extending beyond high-profile operations into ordinary activities and scheduled interactions with immigration authorities.
The Readovia Lens
Immigration enforcement remains active across the United States following the November 3 midterm elections, affecting students, asylum applicants, workers and families in several states. The reported arrests provide a geographic snapshot of ongoing federal operations, although they do not represent a complete nationwide picture.
