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Pregnant woman detained by ICE in Anchorage, released after court order

Mar 20, 2026 · Anchorage, AK, Mexico

Pregnant woman detained by ICE in Anchorage, released after court order

Valeria Mendoza Santiago, a 25-year-old pregnant woman from Oaxaca, Mexico, was arrested by ICE agents at a bus stop in Anchorage on March 20, 2026, and transferred to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center. She was scheduled for transfer to federal detention in Tacoma, Washington, but her lawyers obtained a temporary restraining order citing ICE's own guidelines against detaining pregnant women, resulting in her release. Santiago remains in federal immigration removal proceedings and lives at home with her son.

Timeline

Apr 2026Santiago remained in federal immigration removal proceedings while living at home with her son
Mar 2026ICE arrested Valeria Mendoza Santiago, a 25-year-old pregnant woman, at a bus stop in Anchorage
Mar 2026Santiago transferred to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center
Mar 2026Santiago's lawyers obtained temporary restraining order citing ICE guidelines against detaining pregnant women; Santiago was released

Sources

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