ACLU Class Action Targets ICE Over Failure to Return Personal Property

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class action lawsuit against the Trump administration in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The legal action targets the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement over its alleged refusal to return personal items and documents to individuals held in immigration detention after they are released.

Filed on behalf of seven named plaintiffs, the lawsuit seeks an injunction to force the government to return wrongfully withheld belongings and to stop future withholdings. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols.

Detained Belongings and Lost Livelihoods

According to the lawsuit, ICE has a de facto policy of holding onto personal property long after any legitimate government need has expired. Since January 2025, released individuals have reportedly faced months-long delays in recovering seized items such as passports, driver’s licenses, Employment Authorization Documents, money, jewelry, cell phones, car keys, clothing, and wedding bands.

The named plaintiffs include migrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Cuba, Colombia, Guatemala, and Russia. For example, a Cuban migrant who fled to the United States 46 years ago had his Social Security card and Florida driver’s license taken. A Russian migrant seeking asylum named Vladimir Izmailov reported that ICE took his wedding band, belt, wallet, driver’s license, and work authorization documents, leaving him struggling to support his family.

The ACLU argues that these actions have caused severe personal and economic hardships, including job losses and fear of leaving home due to a lack of documentation.

Ignored Internal Directives

The lawsuit highlights two internal ICE directives that allegedly govern property handling but are being ignored. The “Confiscation Directive” requires that any retention of seized documents must be based on a clearly articulated operational need. Instead, the ACLU states that ICE has given individual officers unguided authority to decide whether to return documents.

The second directive, known as the “Detention Directives,” requires that other personal property be safeguarded and returned upon release unless an ongoing governmental interest exists. The lawsuit claims officers are routinely bypassing this requirement as well.

What This Means for Affected Individuals

For individuals who have had personal property or work authorization papers withheld after release from immigration detention, this class action underscores ongoing accountability efforts in federal courts. Across the country, federal judges have previously threatened or held government officials in contempt over similar failures to return seized items.

While the lawsuit seeks broad injunctive relief to correct these practices, affected individuals facing prolonged property retention can monitor court updates or consult legal counsel to understand their options for recovery.

Talking to an attorney may help if you or a family member has experienced withheld property or documents after release from ICE custody, as legal guidance can help clarify potential avenues for recovering essential personal and work-related items.

This article is general information based on Courthouse News Service and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 14, 2026.