Family Separations

Trump Policy Separates 145,000 US Children from Parents, Inflicting Trauma

Stephen Miller, a key architect of Trump’s immigration policies, remains unfazed by criticism, expressing a secure ego and a large following. His legacy is tied to the “zero tolerance” border policy that led to thousands of children being separated from their parents, with many still not reunited. Despite the policy’s official end, family separations continue on a larger scale, affecting an estimated 145,000 U.S. citizen children whose parents have been detained or deported. This administration’s approach is noted for its increased speed and perceived callousness, lacking systematic measures to protect affected children.

Read More

Dying Teen Denied Final Days With Parents By Immigration System

Just one day after a tearful reunion with his parents in Durango, Mexico, 18-year-old Kevin Gonzalez has died. His parents, who had been in U.S. immigration custody, were granted an expedited release by an immigration judge so they could be with their son, a U.S. citizen diagnosed with terminal colon cancer. The family’s reunion was the result of months of advocacy and community effort. Kevin spent his final moments surrounded by his loved ones.

Read More

3-Year-Old Sexually Abused in Immigration Custody, Family Alleges

A three-year-old girl, separated from her mother at the U.S.-Mexico border, allegedly suffered sexual abuse while in federal foster care for five months. Her father, a legal permanent resident, was delayed in reuniting with her due to administrative hurdles that prevented his fingerprinting for sponsorship. It was only when legal advocates filed a habeas petition that the girl was released and the alleged abuse came to light. This incident highlights concerns about prolonged detention and inadequate protection for immigrant children under new administration policies.

Read More

Teen Dies of Cancer While Father Detained by ICE

A courageous Chicago teenager, who fought tirelessly for her father’s release from ICE custody while battling a devastating illness herself, has sadly passed away at the young age of 16. This heartbreaking situation underscores a profound tragedy, leaving many to question the systems and societal values that allowed such circumstances to unfold. Ofelia Torres, as she was known, succumbed to a rare and aggressive form of cancer, metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Her fight was not only against her own illness but also a desperate plea for her family to be whole during her final days.

The cruel irony of this story lies in the fact that Ofelia’s father was not by her side when she took her last breath.… Continue reading

ICE’s Tactics: Mother’s Terror as Son is Taken, Allegations of Lies and Abuse

A Minnesota mother witnessed immigration agents apprehend her 5-year-old son and his father, Adrián Alexander Conejo Arias, after they were returning from preschool. According to the mother, Erika Ramos, the agents used the child as a way to get her to open the door, but she refused out of fear of being arrested and leaving her other child alone. Liam and his father were subsequently moved from Minnesota to Texas and are currently in the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. Ramos has reported that her son is sick and not receiving medicine, while the Department of Homeland Security claims the child has been examined and cleared by a pediatrician. A temporary restraining order has been issued to prevent the father and son from being removed from the country.

Read More

Inside Dilley: Detention Center Holds 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo-Ramos Amidst Abysmal Conditions

In Dilley, Texas, detainees, including young children, protested conditions at the detention center, sparked by a general strike in Minneapolis. Attorneys Eric Lee and Sam Doiron witnessed and described the conditions, including unsanitary living conditions and separation of families. The attorneys also highlighted the difficulties in tracking detained individuals and the potential for retribution against those who speak out. The facility, which had been closed, reopened, raising concerns about potential growth and the ongoing challenges faced by families held in immigration detention.

Read More

Families Protest Texas Detention of Boy Separated From Father, Blame Congress

Immigrant families protested at a Texas detention facility Saturday, spurred by the recent detention of a 5-year-old boy and his father, as seen in aerial photos and heard through chants of “Libertad.” The families, including Maria Alejandra Montoya Sanchez, are reportedly exhausted by long detentions and poor conditions. According to the families, the protest was organized internally, and one attorney noted the courage of the children and parents who participated despite the risk of retribution. This protest occurred amid rising tensions in Minneapolis, where a federal officer shot and killed a man, adding to the complexities surrounding immigration under the Trump administration.

Read More

ICE Detains Asylum-Seeking Family Seeking Medical Care in Oregon

On January 16, 2026, Yohendry De Jesus Crespo, Darianny Liseth Gonzalez De Crespo, and their 7-year-old daughter Diana were detained by immigration officers outside of Portland Adventist Health while seeking medical attention for Diana. The family is now held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, a facility known for concerns regarding medical care. The family, who arrived from Venezuela over a year ago and have pending asylum applications, was reportedly denied Diana’s request to see a doctor despite the situation. Oregon officials and advocacy groups have expressed concern about the family’s detention, particularly the well-being of the child, and have called for swift and humane action.

Read More