Russian asylum-seeker family detained 120+ days past legal limit, children traumatized
Apr 25, 2026·Location: Dilley, TX
Country of origin: Russia

Aleksei, his wife Anastasia, and their 5-year-old twins were detained at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley for over 120 days—six times the 20-day legal limit under the Flores Settlement Agreement. An ICE officer falsely told Aleksei that Flores protections were no longer in effect. The twins exhibited severe psychological distress, including meltdowns, sleep disruption, weight loss, and trauma responses such as asking if they were bad people or if guards would kill them. The family was released in February 2026 after securing legal representation and filing a parole request.
Timeline
Sources
- 'This place broke something in us': Kids languish in ICE detention long past 20-day court limit
NBC News·Mar 13, 2026·archived copy
NBC News·Mar 13, 2026·archived copy
- 'Even in Russia, they don't treat children like this': A family's nightmare in ICE detention
NBC News·Feb 13, 2026·archived copy
- Federal judges order pause of Egyptian family’s deportation after ICE re-arrested
tpr.org·Apr 26, 2026·archived copy
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