ICE arrests Hispanic woman in California and deports her with her children to Colombia.
Key Takeaways
- A 28-year-old Colombian mother was arrested at a San Francisco immigration appointment and deported with her two minor children within two days, it has been reported.
- Family members allege ICE used deception and say the 6-year-old son, who has a hearing disability, was removed without his hearing aids or access to ongoing treatment.
- California officials, including State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, are urging federal authorities to return the family to the United States.
- Rapid deportations typically occur when a prior final removal order exists; attorneys say options may include an emergency stay, a motion to reopen, or humanitarian parole.
- The case highlights the stakes of routine check-ins with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the limited protections for families with medical needs during enforcement.
What happened
It has been reported that Leslie Rodríguez Gutiérrez, 28, went to what she believed was a routine immigration appointment in San Francisco on Tuesday, March 3, and was detained by agents with ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). According to family members quoted by Univision and cited by La Opinión, officers allegedly told her she only needed to update photographs before arresting her. She and her two children—her 4-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son, Joseph Andrey, who has a hearing disability—were transported to detention and deported to Colombia two days later. The family says Joseph, a student at the California School for the Deaf in Fremont, was removed without his in-ear hearing aids and has been unable to continue treatment abroad.
Reactions and immediate concerns
The deportation has prompted a sharp response from California officials. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond expressed concern for the child’s lack of medical devices and alleged absence of care, calling for the “immediate return” of the family. Relatives told La Opinión they fear for the family’s safety and the boy’s stalled development without specialized services. The family’s attorney, Nikolas de Bremaeker, said Leslie had complied with immigration requirements and had no criminal history, arguing the arrest and removal were unjustified.
Legal and policy context
ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has authority to detain and remove noncitizens with final removal orders, and to arrest individuals who are out of status or otherwise inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). For someone living in the Bay Area for four years and seeking asylum, a same-week deportation often indicates there may have been an existing final order of removal, allowing ICE to execute it quickly; without such an order, removal typically takes longer through immigration court. Asylum seekers can be detained at ICE check-ins or immigration facilities even if they are pursuing protection claims, depending on their case posture. For families removed under these circumstances, immediate options are limited but can include filing a motion to reopen with the immigration court or Board of Immigration Appeals, seeking an emergency stay of removal, or requesting humanitarian parole to facilitate return if a case is reopened—outcomes that are rare but possible.
What this means for others
For people attending “citas” (appointments) with immigration authorities, clarity on which agency is involved matters. USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) handles benefits like asylum interviews, while ICE/ERO manages enforcement and check-ins tied to supervision or final orders. Individuals with pending cases—or past in absentia or final orders—should consult counsel ahead of any appointment, carry documentation of medical needs, and discuss potential stays of removal (Form I-246) or motions to reopen. Families with children who have disabilities should proactively document treatment plans and devices and raise humanitarian concerns in writing with ICE prior to any check-in, though those requests are discretionary. This case underscores how quickly enforcement can move, and the importance of legal preparation for anyone navigating the process right now.
Source: Original Article