Federal immigration agents detained a two-year-old girl and her father, identified as Elvis Joel TE, in Minneapolis on March 15, 2024. The pair was apprehended around 13:00 local time while returning home from a shopping trip, according to court records and statements from the family’s lawyers. The incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the treatment of families by immigration authorities.
By the evening of the same day, a federal judge ordered the release of the girl by 21:30. Despite this directive, both were placed on a flight to a detention center in Texas. Following public outcry, the family’s legal representation confirmed that the two-year-old was flown back to Minnesota and subsequently released into the custody of her mother. The father, however, remains in detention.
Irina Vaynerman, one of the family’s attorneys, described the situation as “truly unimaginable,” condemning the actions of immigration officials as “depravity beyond words.” Detailed accounts from court records and the family’s legal team highlight the distressing circumstances surrounding the detention, including allegations that agents entered the family’s property without a warrant and forcibly broke a glass window of the father’s vehicle while the child was present.
According to the family’s lawyers, the mother was at the door of their home when agents approached but was not allowed to take her daughter from her father. The toddler and her father were placed in an immigration vehicle that reportedly lacked an appropriate car seat. In response to the situation, the family’s legal team quickly filed an emergency petition, which was first reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
A federal judge in Minnesota granted an order at approximately 20:10 prohibiting the government from transferring the father and daughter outside the state. Shortly thereafter, the judge mandated that the girl be released into the custody of her mother’s attorney for the purpose of reuniting her with her family. The judge emphasized the necessity of this action due to the “risk of irreparable harm” to the child, underscoring the girl’s lack of any criminal history.
Despite these legal directives, federal authorities proceeded to place the father and daughter on a flight to Texas around 20:30. The father, originally from Ecuador, has a pending asylum application and no final order of removal, according to his legal team. The child has lived in Minneapolis since her birth in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to inquiries regarding the rationale behind the transfer to Texas or their compliance with the judge’s order. A spokesperson for DHS stated that border patrol was conducting a “targeted enforcement operation” when they identified Elvis Joel TE. The agency described him as an “illegal immigrant,” alleging he had unlawfully re-entered the U.S. and was “driving erratically with a child.”
DHS claimed that agents attempted to return the child to her mother but asserted that she refused to accept her daughter. Vaynerman refuted this claim, stating that the mother was not permitted to take her child due to the agents’ actions. Eyewitness accounts noted that a crowd gathered during the incident, prompting DHS to implement “crowd control measures.” Reports indicated the use of chemical irritants and flash-bang devices by agents.
While DHS stated that the father and daughter were “reunited at a federal facility,” it did not acknowledge the girl’s return to her mother. Vaynerman expressed deep concern over the broader implications of such actions, highlighting the emotional toll on both the child and the family.
“This case is horrific,” Vaynerman stated. “Anyone who is a parent or cares for young kids knows the fear that happens when a child is separated from their parent.” She criticized DHS’s practice of rapidly transferring detainees out of state, arguing it complicates legal representation and exacerbates the distress experienced by families.
The family’s legal team is now pushing for a more comprehensive court order to prevent the government from transferring individuals outside of Minnesota for a minimum of seven days after they have had the opportunity to contact legal counsel. They aim to bar out-of-state transfers for individuals with pending habeas petitions, thereby ensuring that families can effectively challenge their detentions.
Vaynerman concluded by condemning the lack of humanity in the government’s approach, stating, “The actions we are witnessing are truly unimaginable. There must be an end to this type of cruelty.” The case has garnered national attention, calling into question the practices of immigration enforcement and the impact on vulnerable families.
