Seven individuals who had been held by ICE filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging that the agency unlawfully withheld their personal documents and belongings after their release. The complaint states that items including Social Security cards, employment authorization documents, and mobile phones were retained without justification, in violation of the Fourth Amendment and ICE's own policy, which permits seizure only when directly tied to a criminal investigation. The ACLU of the District of Columbia, representing the plaintiffs, cited a recent federal appeals court decision in Washington, DC, that limited local police from holding seized property for extended periods without cause. According to the suit, the delay in returning such documents has impeded some plaintiffs from maintaining employment, with one individual reporting an inability to work for over five months due to the missing authorization papers. Vladimir Izmailov, a Russian national with an ongoing asylum case, stated that he was forced to borrow money to meet housing expenses after ICE retained his work documents and wedding ring. The lawsuit follows a series of documented cases involving similar practices, including reports from Minnesota in which immigration attorneys noted that the nonreturn of personal items appears to be routine. Legal experts have observed that federal regulations require noncitizens to carry proof of lawful status, and that withholding such documentation effectively restricts access to employment and basic necessities. The plaintiffs are seeking a court order compelling ICE to return their property and to cease the practice of retaining personal items without a legitimate basis.