Immigrant Women Escaping Abuse Face Detention by ICE Instead

Immigrant women who are victims of domestic abuse in the United States now face a new and dangerous reality. According to reports from legal experts and activists, these individuals are increasingly being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after seeking help from law enforcement or social services. This trend has escalated under President Donald Trump's administration, which has rolled back protections for victims of domestic violence.

The North Lake Processing Center in west Michigan serves as a stark example of this troubling pattern. Here, women who reported their abusers to the police are now being held in red jumpsuits, marking them as high security risks within the confines of the former prison-turned-detention facility. These women describe harrowing experiences with partners or spouses who use threats of deportation and physical violence to maintain control over them.

One such woman is Pilar, a Peruvian immigrant whose boyfriend accused her of being the abuser after she attempted to leave him. Despite evidence that she was the victim of abuse, local police arrested her based on her partner's claims. When charges were dropped, ICE detained her during a routine check-in with immigration authorities. Another victim, Leya from Cuba, faced similar circumstances when her boyfriend physically abused her and then accused her of assault after she fought back.

Immigration attorney Migladys Bermudez in southeast Michigan has documented these cases, noting that all three women were trying to escape abusive relationships when they were arrested by local police on domestic violence allegations. In each instance, the charges against them were ultimately dismissed or never filed. However, once their names entered ICE's system, they faced detention and potential deportation.

The shift in policy under President Trump has significantly altered how immigration authorities handle cases involving victims of abuse. On inauguration day, his administration rescinded guidelines that had previously discouraged ICE from making arrests at sensitive locations such as domestic violence shelters or hospitals. A week later, the administration eliminated key protections granted to applicants under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which provides a pathway for legal status for immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse or other serious crimes.

These changes have emboldened federal immigration agents to make arrests outside specialized domestic violence courts and encouraged local police departments across the country to collaborate more closely with ICE. Even in jurisdictions without formal agreements known as 287(g) programs, which allow local law enforcement to act as immigration officers, there has been a notable uptick in cooperation between local jails and federal authorities.

In Kent County, west Michigan, for instance, the county jail transferred more immigrants to ICE custody during the first half of 2026 than it did throughout President Biden's administration. This trend reflects broader national patterns where immigrant women are increasingly reluctant to seek help from law enforcement due to fear of being detained and deported.

Advocates warn that this environment is now one of the most perilous times for immigrant women who suffer domestic violence, as they face heightened risks without adequate protections. The lack of comprehensive tracking mechanisms means the full extent of these arrests remains unclear, but reports indicate a significant rise in cases where victims are mistakenly identified as perpetrators and subsequently handed over to ICE.

As the situation continues to evolve, legal experts like Bermudez emphasize the urgent need for policy changes that protect immigrant women from falling into this cycle of abuse and detention. The current landscape underscores the critical importance of ensuring that all individuals have access to justice without fear of retaliation or deportation.