A scheduled immigration appointment ended with a Cuban woman detained by ICE and a family facing economic hardships. Her husband, a U.S. citizen, watched his construction business, which once employed 16 workers, crumble as he tried to care for their young daughter, attend to his elderly father, and secure his wife's release.
The case was documented in a joint report by El País and Puente News Collaborative, published on Wednesday, October 28, which examines the consequences of the Trump administration's immigration operations for American families and businesses.
The Cuban woman, identified as N. G. M., was arrested on February 6, 2026, when she attended a migration control appointment in Dallas, Texas, while processing her permanent residency through marriage.
Her husband explained that after the arrest, he had to take on the care of their daughter and his father, an elderly American veteran, responsibilities that the woman had previously managed.
These difficulties were compounded by the legal battle to prevent his deportation. After a negative experience with his lawyers, the man decided to personally handle a significant portion of the legal procedures, a task that ultimately consumed the time he had previously devoted to his business.
The separation also depleted the family's financial resources. In a fundraising campaign posted on GoFundMe, the husband explained on October 5 that the approximately $23,000 initially raised had already been exhausted on legal expenses, transportation, childcare, and other family needs.
He also assured that his wife had been detained for almost eight months and that he continued to fight for her release.
"Something has to change," he stated when referring to the complexity of the U.S. immigration system.
Why was the Cuban woman arrested?
According to FOX 4 Dallas, ICE stated that the woman had been expelled from the United States in 2018 after attempting to enter with an allegedly fraudulent Peruvian passport.
The agency also noted that he re-entered the southwest border without authorization on August 9, 2022, a behavior it classified as a federal crime.
However, the media noted that it found no records of the Cuban having committed any other offenses after her reentry into the United States in 2022.
The arrest took place when the woman was attending a scheduled appointment, despite her husband's statement that the couple had attended all the required hearings and check-ups.
The case is reminiscent of another Cuban woman married to an American veteran, detained during an immigration appointment in Dallas, who had been in ICE custody for nearly ten months when her situation was reported in September.
The economic consequences of migration operations extend to other businesses. According to a report by El País, builders in South Texas claim that the timelines for completing basic housing have doubled due to a shortage of workers.
Related videos:
Filed under: