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Immigrant Hospitalized After He Was Brutally Beaten and Arrested by ICE

HeadlineAug 19, 2026

An immigrant was hospitalized after he was brutally beaten and arrested by ICE agents in Virginia last week. José Mejía Hernández says it was only after he regained consciousness at the hospital that he saw the injuries and severe bruising on his face — consistent with blunt force trauma. He also reportedly suffered major brain bleeding and swelling. According to journalist Aaron Parnas, Hernández was walking to work when two ICE agents approached him in a truck. At the hospital, he had ICE agents by his side at all times and was never given proper explanation of his diagnosis or injuries. Once discharged, Hernández was taken to an ICE office, where they placed a GPS ankle monitor on him. Hernández was hospitalized a second time after he felt unwell and was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, but doctors were reportedly unable to conduct an MRI at the time due to ICE’s ankle monitor.

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