By Angela Cifone, KITV News
Published: Nov. 6, 2025
HONOLULU (Island News) -- ICE raids are happening across Hawaiʻi, more than most people know.
The latest ICE raids on Kauaʻi on Wednesday led to 44 arrests at homes and businesses. But it's happening across the islands.
Right now, former Miss Hawaii Cheryl Bartlett's husband and Brazilian citizen Rogerio Araujo, is detained outside of their Oahu home. He now faces the possibility of deportation at any moment.
ICE raids in Kona have been targeting undocumented farm workers all year.
According to Pilar Kam with the University of Hawaii Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, people detained on neighbor islands are brought to Oʻahu's Federal Detention Center.
Leilani Stacy, the immigrants' rights attorney for ACLU of Hawaii, said, "These are our neighbors. Our loved ones. Folks working three jobs just to get by, and they're the ones being picked up and put in federal detention."
Salmah Y. Rizvi, Executive Director of ACLU Hawaiʻi, said, "For many years, this facility was lightly populated. Now we're seeing more and more immigrants being taken to FDC (Federal Detention Center), and that's why people are scared."
With arrests rising, advocates said it's critical to know your rights.
"You cannot be locked up by police or immigration forces unless there's probable cause for your arrest," said Rizvi.
But getting out of detention isn't easy.
Pilar Kam, Post JD fellow for UH Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic, said, "In immigration law, folks have the right to have an attorney, but they're not entitled to have one, which is a big difference. So you can be sent to a detention center, but no court is going to appoint an attorney for you."
In May, ICE agents on Maui mistakenly raided Filipino teachers' homes, ignoring a request to see a warrant—a request that should be honored.
"ICE officers do not have the power to enter a home unless they have, of course, a warrant, not just any warrant, but a warrant that has been signed by a judge," said Kam.
The ACLU Hawaii continues to educate through “Know Your Rights” workshops.
"We want to empower the community to know how to respond if agents show up at your door or on the street," said Rizvi.
And even if you're not directly affected—
Rizvi continued, "If you see a raid occurring, it is within your right to be able to videotape that with your phone as a community member that may not be directly impacted by a raid, but is witnessing it."