Nursing Guatemalan mother detained by ICE in Nashville, reunited with daughters after 3 months
May 19, 2025·Location: Nashville, TN
Country of origin: Guatemala

A Guatemalan-born mother, identified by the pseudonym Maria Perez to protect her identity, was detained by ICE at her Nashville residence on May 19 while preparing to take her children to a doctor's appointment. At the time, Perez was breastfeeding her infant daughter and caring for another young daughter who has Down syndrome and other health complications. Her attorneys say her detention at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center violated ICE Directive 11032.4, which discourages detaining pregnant, postpartum, or nursing people, and that she has no criminal history despite ICE's claim she previously faced charges for falsely claiming citizenship. Perez was released on Aug. 14 after nearly three months in custody, was placed on electronic monitoring, and continues to pursue her asylum application.
Sources
More incidents in Tennessee
- Ice-led operation detains dozens in Northeast Memphis raidAug 30, 2026 · Memphis, TN
- Nursing mother separated from infant and toddler with Down syndrome after ICE arrest, later releasedAug 14, 2026 · Nashville, TN
- Egyptian asylum seeker detained at ICE check-in challenges detention without bond hearingAug 3, 2026 · Mason, TN
- Country singer speaks out after family member arrested by ICEAug 2, 2026 · Nashville, TN
- Egyptian National Detained Seeks Release from Tennessee Immigration FacilityJul 28, 2026 · Tennessee
- Honduran man dies weeks after ICE detention, family reports mistreatmentJul 27, 2026 · Memphis, TN