A Donna, Texas family has filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, McAllen Division, challenging what they describe as an unlawful home entry by federal immigration agents. The case was filed on February 18, 2026. The filing not only details the family’s personal experience but also seeks certification of a nationwide class action targeting a federal policy directive that allegedly authorizes warrantless home entries based on administrative immigration warrants.

The named family members are Humberto García, Andrea Soledad García, Anna Beatriz García, and L.G., a minor represented by her next friend, Andrea Soledad García. The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and ICE Acting Director Todd M. Lyons in their official capacities. According to the complaint, the policy at issue allows supervisory immigration officers to rely on internal administrative warrants to enter residences and carry out arrests without a judicial warrant signed by a neutral magistrate.

The Early Morning Entry

According to the complaint, the events unfolded on January 9, 2026, between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m. at the García family residence in Donna. Humberto García, a U.S. citizen, states he was preparing to leave for work when he noticed trucks outside the home. Moments later, he observed ICE agents jumping over the fence that enclosed the family’s property.

The filing alleges that agents pointed firearms at Humberto and began using force without first identifying themselves or presenting a judicial warrant authorizing entry. Surveillance images included in the complaint show multiple armed agents inside the fenced yard. The family contends that Humberto was knocked to the ground, scratched on the face, and restrained with agents placing their feet on his back.

Andrea Soledad García alleges she was kicked in the feet, causing her to fall to the ground. She states that when she demanded to see proof of a judicial warrant permitting entry into the home, agents did not produce one. Anna Beatriz García further alleges she was tightly gripped by officers, resulting in bruising.

L.G., a minor and U.S. citizen, was asleep when the incident began. The complaint states she suffers from a medical condition that makes her bones prone to breaking easily. She allegedly woke to agents banging on windows, pointing guns at her, and ordering her to kneel and raise her hands.

The filing states that agents gave the family two minutes to come outside, threatening to break down the door if they did not comply. Although the family’s mother exited the home, agents allegedly entered the residence without consent to locate the father. Both parents, who are not U.S. citizens but are reportedly seeking lawful permanent resident status, were taken into DHS custody, while the family remained outside the home until approximately 11:00 a.m., according to the complaint.

Constitutional Allegations

The lawsuit argues that the entry into the home violated the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. The complaint cites longstanding Supreme Court precedent emphasizing that warrantless entry into a residence is presumptively unconstitutional absent consent or exigent circumstances. The family contends that an internal administrative warrant signed within the agency does not satisfy the constitutional requirement of a judicial warrant.

In addition to the Fourth Amendment claim, the filing alleges a violation of the Fifth Amendment’s due process protections. The argument presented is that permitting civil immigration arrests inside a home without judicial authorization deprives individuals of liberty without due process of law. The complaint asserts that the policy directive effectively authorizes conduct that disregards constitutional safeguards.

The Request for Class Action Certification

Important to the lawsuit is the request for certification of a nationwide class under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. The proposed class would include all individuals who have been or will be affected by the policy directive authorizing entry into residences based solely on administrative immigration warrants. The family argues that the directive applies broadly and presents common legal questions affecting a large and dispersed population.

The filing asserts that potentially affected individuals include mixed-status households and noncitizens with outstanding removal orders. The complaint cites estimates suggesting that millions of households nationwide could be subject to enforcement actions under the challenged directive. The family maintains that joinder of all affected individuals would be impractical, making class treatment appropriate.

The legal questions identified as common to the proposed class include whether the directive violates Fourth Amendment protections and whether it also infringes Fifth Amendment due process rights. The family argues that because the policy applies generally and operates in a uniform manner, declaratory and injunctive relief should extend to all similarly situated individuals. They contend that a class action is the most efficient and effective method to address the alleged constitutional violations on a systemic level.

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