ICE Custody Deaths, TPS Fears, and Deportation News Today
What if your legal status ended overnight — and you had no idea what comes next? That's the reality for thousands of Haitian immigrants in New York right now, after Temporary Protected Status (TPS) — a program that let them live and work legally in the US — expired. At the same time, two immigrants died in ICE custody this week, and immigration courts are moving faster than ever.
Haitian community in New York braces for deportation
Haitian neighborhoods across New York City have gone quiet. Businesses are losing customers. People are staying home. The reason: TPS for Haitian nationals has ended, leaving many uncertain whether they will be arrested, detained, or deported. TPS (Temporary Protected Status) is a program that allows people from certain countries to live and work in the US legally when their home country faces a crisis. Without it, many Haitians now have no legal status — and no clear path forward.
Lawyers are raising a separate alarm about migrant children. The Trump administration sped up asylum interviews and ended a $356 million-a-year federal contract that paid for legal services for children in immigration court. Without lawyers, children face judges and immigration officers alone. Legal advocates say this is making it much harder for kids to win their cases — and easier for courts to mark cases as abandoned and issue deportation orders.
Deportation Defense Checklist — Free
Immigrant rights, appeals and protective measures
Two immigrants die in ICE custody; conditions under scrutiny
The family of Daphy Michel, a Haitian immigrant, is suing ICE after she froze to death in Pittsburgh. ICE released her from custody into 20-degree Fahrenheit temperatures while she was wearing summer clothes. The medical examiner ruled her death a homicide. Separately, Prisciliano Trejo Ricano, a 29-year-old Mexican national, died of leukemia after falling seriously ill during three weeks in a Georgia detention center. A judge ordered the release of Sarafinah Bukirwa, a Ugandan woman detained despite serious sickle cell anemia. At the Adelanto detention center in California, detainees reported finding worm-like creatures in their water supply, which they say comes from an unknown, non-potable source.
Immigration courts are also under pressure. According to an Associated Press investigation, courts are processing dozens of cases per day. Asylum cases are being marked abandoned at record rates. Deportation orders issued in absentia — meaning the person was not present — have surged under the current administration. A public health researcher from Cameroon, Fatima Ameaka, was detained by ICE while boarding a domestic flight at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, then later released. And a nurse running a health clinic outside Delaney Hall detention center filed a lawsuit against ICE, alleging she was pepper-sprayed by a federal agent while filming ICE activity in her neighborhood.
What to do
- If your TPS has expired or is expiring, contact an immigration lawyer immediately to review any other options — such as asylum, a family petition, or other relief. Do not assume you have no options without getting legal advice first.
- If you or a family member is detained by ICE, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak with a lawyer. Do not sign any documents without legal counsel.
- If you have a court date, show up — even if you don't have a lawyer yet. Missing a hearing can result in a deportation order issued in your absence (called an "in absentia" order), which is very hard to reverse.
- If you are concerned about conditions in a detention facility — including unsafe water or lack of medical care — ask to speak with a medical officer and have a family member or lawyer document the complaint in writing.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Deportation Defense”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
If you had TPS and it has now expired, you may still have options — asylum, cancellation of removal, or a family-based petition — but the window to act is narrow and the process is unforgiving. Missing a court date, even once, can result in an automatic deportation order that takes years and significant legal effort to undo. If ICE detained you and you believe your rights were violated — including being denied medical care or released into dangerous conditions — document everything and preserve any evidence, because civil rights claims have strict filing deadlines. Consult an immigration attorney as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
My TPS expired. Does that mean I will be deported right away?
Not necessarily right away, but your legal status is now at risk. ICE can detain and begin removal proceedings against you. However, you may qualify for other forms of protection — such as asylum or a family petition. Talk to an immigration lawyer before assuming you have no options.
What happens if I miss my immigration court hearing?
If you miss your hearing, the judge can issue a deportation order in your absence. This is called an 'in absentia' order. It is very difficult to reverse. Always go to your court date, even without a lawyer. If you cannot make it, contact the court in advance.
Can ICE arrest me at an airport while I'm traveling inside the US?
Yes. The case of Fatima Ameaka shows that ICE can detain someone at a domestic airport. If this happens to you, you have the right to remain silent and the right to contact a lawyer. Do not answer questions about your immigration status without legal counsel present.
What can I do if a family member is sick in ICE detention and not getting medical care?
Contact an immigration lawyer immediately. Attorneys can file emergency motions asking a judge to order the person's release on medical grounds — this is exactly what happened in the Louisville case involving Sarafinah Bukirwa. Document all symptoms, dates, and any requests for care that were denied.