Immigration Highlights of the Week: ICE Undergoes a Reorganization Amid Controversy, Resignations, and Tension Over Immigration Raids
David Venturella will serve as the new ICE acting director following Todd Lyons’ departure later this month.
The veteran ICE official will take office amid controversy over violent ICE (and CBP) operations across the country that claimed the lives of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota at the hands of immigration agents, and as the agency faces multiple lawsuits over rights violations—including those of U.S. citizens—during operations by both agencies.
Venturella also takes office amid a standoff between Democrats and Republicans over the reforms demanded by the former regarding agent conduct and an accountability process that currently does not exist. That impasse led to a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and now Republicans are seeking to add another $70 billion for ICE and CBP through the reconciliation process and without Democratic support, as it requires only a simple majority to pass.
What is most striking is that Venturella is a former executive of the GEO Group, the controversial private firm that operates 23 ICE detention centers with more than 26,000 beds, many of which have been accused of abuses including a lack of adequate medical care and where several deaths have even been recorded.
As reported by La Opinión, “according to public documents, the GEO Group holds contracts with ICE valued at over $1 billion… Democratic Congresswoman Delia Ramírez harshly criticized the appointment. ‘Let’s be clear: his appointment aims to ensure that Trump’s corporate bosses continue to profit at the expense of our communities’ suffering.’”
La Opinión also reported that “according to a report published by The New York Times, Venturella allegedly intervened personally in an immigration case to ensure the detention and deportation of a woman linked to a close ally of Trump.” DHS denies this.
Meanwhile, the head of the Border Patrol resigns
Michael Banks submitted his immediate resignation from the position of CBP chief.
CNN reported that “during Banks’ tenure, a subordinate Border Patrol official, Gregory Bovino, led the government’s immigration crackdown campaign within the United States, with the approval of then-Secretary (of DHS) Kristi Noem.”
Trump praised Banks and Bovino for their performance, but following the American public’s rejection of the operations they deem excessive, both officials are now out.
Last month, The Washington Examiner revealed that six current and former CBP employees accused Banks of paying for the services of prostitutes on overseas trips over the past decade. Banks was apparently investigated, but the inquiry was halted during Noem’s tenure.
Despite high-level resignations and firings, immigration raids continue to terrorize the community
La Opinión reported on a UnidosUS report concluding that “UnidosUS affiliates serving local Hispanic communities frequently report that entire families avoid seeking medical care for fear that ICE agents might show up at hospitals or clinics and proceed with detentions based on their appearance or the way they speak.”
“Other Trump administration policies have eroded access to healthcare… The indiscriminate enforcement of immigration laws, the sharing of Medicaid records with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the public charge rule have created a profound deterrent effect,” according to the report.
To top it off, ICE will be present at some 2026 World Cup stadiums
The announcement that ICE agents will be present at some 2026 FIFA World Cup matches across the country performing security “support” duties is causing great concern. There was no mention of mass raids, but the possibility of some arrests was not ruled out.
It was noted, however, that there would be no agents at SoFi Stadium or the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
“International visitors who arrive legally in the United States to attend the World Cup have nothing to worry about,” said a DHS spokesperson quoted by The Hill. “What makes a person subject to immigration enforcement measures is whether or not they are in U.S. territory illegally; period.”
“At the same time, foreign visitors SHOULD be proactive and begin preparing their travel plans and documents well in advance to ensure a smooth travel experience,” the agency added.
Democrats Advocate for Permanent Legislative Solution for ‘Dreamers’
La Opinión reported that “Democratic senators and immigrant advocacy groups sounded the alarm about the future of thousands of DACA recipients after denouncing delays in renewals, detentions, and deportations under the Donald Trump administration.”
“Data cited by lawmakers indicate that in 2025, at least 261 DACA recipients were detained and 86 deported, despite having active protections,” the newspaper noted.
“One of the most striking testimonies was that of Ariel, a San Francisco-based nurse who arrived in the United States at age two and now faces the risk of losing her job due to delays in renewing her immigration protection,” it added.
“She is on the verge of losing her job caring for the sick and the promotion she had worked for, due to the failures and cruelty of the Trump administration,” said California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla.
Kevin González Laid to Rest in Durango
“With white flowers, marching band music, and applause, family members, classmates, and teachers bid a final farewell to Kevin González, an 18-year-old who died of terminal colon cancer in Durango. The funeral service was held at the high school where he studied, in an atmosphere marked by sadness but also by the affection of those who shared moments with him,” wrote La Opinión.
Telemundo reported that friends and family members held a memorial service at Kevin’s former high school and at Durango Cathedral.
Kevin and his parents went through an ordeal to be able to reunite before the young man passed away this past Sunday, as they had been detained while trying to enter the United States without documents to see their son. Kevin traveled to Mexico to wait for them.
A federal judge in Arizona finally ordered his expedited deportation to Mexico, and his parents were able to see him before his passing.
Quote of the week:
“He leaves us with a broken heart… An empty heart,” Maricela Ramírez, aunt of Kevin González, told Telemundo. Kevin, the 18-year-old terminally ill cancer patient, moved many with the ordeal he endured to see his parents—who were detained by immigration authorities—before he passed away.