“Mama, take it easy. I'm here.” With those words, a child was trying to comfort his mother, Érika Quiroz, who was experiencing a panic attack while being detained by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents outside the Immigration Court in San Antonio, Texas.
The distressing moment was captured by cameras from Univision, generating an outpouring of outrage among migrant communities. The woman, identified as Honduran, was arrested along with her minor son and taken onto a detention truck, where she began to breathe heavily, cry, and plead: “I don’t want to leave.”
In the video, you can see how the boy, without letting go of her, tries to calm her in the midst of the chaos. The scene ends with the mother being removed from the vehicle due to her critical condition, without the agents calling for paramedics. It was a journalist who offered her water to ease her crisis.
The arrest of Quiroz was not an isolated incident. Since May 21, ICE agents have been making daily arrests outside the immigration court in San Antonio. According to judicial sources, at least 40 people —including children— have been detained each day.
A Cuban woman identified as Lennys Hernández reported that her father was arrested on the same day, May 29, despite having attended his second court appointment with his lawyer on time and without being questioned by the judge before being taken away.
Immigration lawyers warn that many of these individuals have been in the U.S. for less than two years. They are subject to the "expedited removal" process, which prevents them from presenting solid arguments to remain in the country.
The case of Érika Quiroz, although Honduran, strongly evokes the painful testimony of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda, a Cuban mother deported from Tampa, Florida, last April, leaving behind her breastfeeding daughter.
Sánchez was arrested during a routine appointment with ICE, despite being married to a U.S. citizen and having an active family petition. She was deported to Cuba on April 23, separated from her one-year-old baby, who was left in the care of her father in the U.S.
In statements to CiberCuba, Heydi stated: "My girl is my life, my everything. They are slowly killing me." Her case sparked reactions on social media and led to intervention from Congresswoman Kathy Castor, who requested humanitarian permission from the president for the Cuban mother.
Frequently asked questions about the situation of arrests and deportations of immigrants in the U.S.
What happened during the arrest of Érika Quiroz outside the Immigration Court in Texas?
Érika Quiroz was detained by ICE agents while suffering a panic attack outside the Immigration Court in San Antonio, Texas. During the arrest, her son tried to comfort her. The situation sparked outrage and was captured by Univisión cameras.
How does the process of "expedited removal" affect newly arrived immigrants in the U.S.?
The "expedited removal" process prevents immigrants from presenting solid arguments to remain in the U.S. This process particularly affects immigrants who have been in the country for less than two years, exposing them to swift deportations without a full hearing.
What was the situation of Heydi Sánchez Tejeda before her deportation to Cuba?
Heydi Sánchez Tejeda was deported to Cuba, leaving her breastfeeding daughter in the U.S. Despite being married to a U.S. citizen and having an active family petition, she was detained during a routine immigration appointment in Tampa and repatriated, separating her from her baby.
What actions are families affected by unjust deportations in the U.S. taking?
Families like Heydi Sánchez's are starting signature collection campaigns and seeking legal support. Carlos Yuniel Valle, her husband, has launched a campaign on MoveOn to request that Heydi be allowed to return to the U.S. and reunite with her daughter.
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