ICE is deporting US citizens and other legals

ICE does not have legal authority to deport U.S. Citizens, and credible sources confirm that U.S. Citizens cannot be legally deported by ICE.

Jayapal Introduces Legislation to End ICE Targeting of US Citizens - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
Source: jayapal.house.gov

Jayapal Introduces Legislation to End ICE Targeting of US Citizens - Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
Source: jayapal.house.gov

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 10, 2025

ICE internal guidance states it cannot arrest or deport U.S. Citizens.jayapal.house.gov
ACLU-supported lawsuit claiming ICE deported U.S. Citizens was dropped due to lack of evidence.dhs.gov
Legislative proposals exist to prevent any targeting of U.S. Citizens by ICE, underscoring the legal protections in place.jayapal.house.gov axios.com

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

The claim that "ICE is deporting US citizens and other legals" is false based on current legal frameworks and official statements.

By law, U.S. Citizens cannot be deported. ICE's own internal guidance explicitly states that it has no authority to arrest, detain, or deport U.S. Citizens.jayapal.house.gov

Recent legislative efforts, such as those introduced by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, aim to reinforce protections against ICE targeting U.S. Citizens, indicating ongoing concerns but no legal basis for deportation of citizens.jayapal.house.gov axios.com

A lawsuit supported by the ACLU alleging ICE deported U.S. Citizens was dropped due to lack of evidence, further confirming that such claims are baseless.dhs.gov

While there have been isolated incidents of wrongful detention or mistaken identity arrests involving U.S. Citizens, these do not equate to lawful deportations and are subject to legal remedies.afsc.org en.wikipedia.org

ICE statistics and official mission statements confirm enforcement actions target non-citizens who violate immigration laws; there is no credible data supporting the deportation of U.S. Citizens.ice.gov ice.gov In summary, while errors or wrongful detentions may occur occasionally, the claim that ICE is deporting U.S. Citizens or other legal residents is not supported by law or credible evidence.