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Deaf child deported without hearing aids after mother detained at ICE check-in

Mar 8, 2026 · San Francisco, CA, Colombia

Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, 28, a Colombian asylum-seeker who had lived in the U.S. for approximately four years with no criminal record, attended a routine check-in appointment at ICE's San Francisco office on March 3, 2026, with her two sons, including a deaf child who attended the California School for the Deaf. All three were detained by federal agents. The deaf child was separated from his hearing aids and assistive equipment during detention, despite a family member being present outside willing to provide them. The family was deported to Colombia by March 6. A federal immigration court had placed an order of supervision on Rodriguez Gutierrez that should have prevented deportation. Her attorney stated ICE misled his team about the family's whereabouts throughout the week and obstructed access to counsel, preventing the family from invoking humanitarian protections. California officials and immigration attorneys subsequently called for the family's return.

Timeline

Mar 8, 2026California officials and immigration attorneys call for family's return, citing lack of due process and separation of deaf child from necessary medical devices
Mar 6, 2026Family deported to Colombia without deaf child's hearing aids or assistive equipment, despite federal immigration court order of supervision
Mar 5, 2026Attorneys unable to locate family; ICE provides conflicting information about their whereabouts and obstructs access to counsel
Mar 3, 2026Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and her two sons, including a deaf child, detained by ICE agents at routine check-in appointment at San Francisco ICE office

Sources

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