U.S. Citizen Mistakenly Flagged for Deportation—Again

A U.S. Citizen Targeted—Twice—by ICE Due to System Errors
In a deeply troubling repeat of a past mistake, Miguel Silvestre, a U.S. citizen born in Stockton, California, has again been wrongfully flagged for deportation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite having verified his American citizenship over a decade ago, Silvestre was added to ICE’s removal list this June due to what appears to be a systematic failure in immigration data tracking.

This is the second time the federal government has wrongly targeted him for deportation. The first occurred in the early 2000s, when he was deported after a routine traffic stop. That mistake was later corrected through legal intervention. But now, nearly two decades later, his name has resurfaced in deportation databases, exposing serious flaws in the way ICE identifies and processes cases.

 
How ICE Flagged a U.S. Citizen—Twice
According to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle, Silvestre’s latest ordeal began in June 2025 when a routine ICE data sweep flagged his name as a “deportable alien.” This happened despite him having official documents proving his birth in the United States, including a valid birth certificate, Social Security card, and legal records confirming his U.S. citizenship status.

Legal advocates had helped him resolve his citizenship status after his first wrongful deportation. His name was cleared, his case was closed, and his rights as a U.S. citizen were affirmed. Yet, with no warning, ICE's internal systems triggered a second deportation action, raising urgent concerns over data accuracy, due process, and civil rights protections in U.S. immigration enforcement.

 
Data Errors in ICE Systems Pose Nationwide Risk
Silvestre’s case is not isolated. Data errors in federal immigration databases are well documented, and they often result in the detention—or in some cases, deportation—of people who are not subject to removal. A 2022 report by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General warned that ICE lacks reliable identity verification systems. The report noted that the agency cannot consistently confirm whether someone is a U.S. citizen before initiating removal proceedings.

ICE’s use of automated flagging tools, which scan massive amounts of data across multiple databases, often leads to false positives. These tools rely heavily on outdated, inconsistent, or incomplete records. When that flawed data triggers an alert, ICE agents may act before confirming facts, especially in expedited cases.

This is how a U.S. citizen like Miguel Silvestre ends up being wrongly targeted—not once, but twice.

 
Citizenship Verification Should Be Final—But It Isn’t
One of the most disturbing aspects of this story is that Silvestre had already gone through the legal process to affirm his citizenship. He had been helped by attorneys from legal aid organizations, including those associated with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and the ACLU. His documentation had been reviewed and validated. There should have been no doubt.

And yet, the same government that recognized him as a citizen is now forcing him to defend that status again.

According to immigration attorney Jacinta Torres, the broader danger is clear:

“If someone with verified citizenship can be repeatedly targeted for deportation, it proves that no one is safe from data-driven mistakes. The system isn’t just broken—it’s unaccountable.”
 
Real-World Consequences for Wrongful Deportation Flags
Silvestre now carries with him what his family calls a “just-in-case bag”—a folder of key documents he can present if questioned again. His experience has shaken his community and added to growing pressure on immigration authorities to reform how deportation decisions are made.

Beyond the emotional toll, wrongful deportation threats can cost individuals their jobs, disrupt families, and create lasting fear. Legal experts say that in many cases, people lack the resources to fight back, which can lead to unjust outcomes.

And when mistakes are made, there is no formal appeals process for citizens wrongly added to ICE’s systems—only legal action and media pressure can force reversals.

 
The Bigger Picture: Immigration Enforcement Needs Oversight
Silvestre’s story highlights the urgent need for reform within ICE and DHS, particularly when it comes to citizenship verification and database accuracy. Advocates are calling for:

• Mandatory human review of any deportation case involving a potential U.S. citizen
• Improved data integration between federal and state identity systems
• Legal protections for individuals who have been previously wrongfully targeted
• Transparency in ICE operations and flagging procedures
• Until such safeguards are in place, more Americans could find themselves in the same frightening position—forced to prove their own identity to a system that should already know it.

 
Final Thoughts: If It Can Happen to Him…
Miguel Silvestre’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on flawed immigration databases and automated decision-making in life-altering matters like deportation. His experience shows that even U.S. citizens are not immune from the risks of systemic error.

It’s not enough to have a birth certificate. It’s not enough to have a court ruling. When government systems forget who you are, the burden falls unfairly on the individual to correct the mistake.

And that is a failure of justice we cannot afford to ignore.

 
Would you like help understanding your rights or accessing legal assistance for immigration issues? Visit immigrationadvocates.org or contact the ACLU’s immigration rights division for support.