DACA recipient activist detained at airport, deportation case sent back for review
Apr 28, 2026·Location: El Paso, TX
Country of origin: Mexico

Catalina Santiago-Santiago, a 28-year-old DACA recipient and immigrant rights activist, was detained by ICE in early August 2025 at El Paso International Airport despite holding valid DACA status. Her attorneys filed a motion to terminate her deportation proceedings based on her DACA protections. On April 24, 2026, the Board of Immigration Appeals ruled that immigration judges cannot terminate deportation proceedings based solely on DACA status without considering the government's reasons for opposing termination. The ruling requires judges to comply with a Biden-era rule and sends Santiago's case back for further review, potentially affecting other DACA recipients in similar proceedings. The Trump administration has stated that DACA recipients are not automatically protected from deportation, contradicting the program's original protections.
Timeline
Sources
- Thousands of protected migrants could be deported by ICE
Newsweek·Apr 28, 2026·archived copy
- Immigrant activist's detention highlights DACA recipients' growing deportation risks
NBC News·Aug 29, 2025·archived copy
- cis.org
- Board of Immigration Appeals Ruling Strips DACA of Its Shield Against Deportation, Setting New Precedent for 500,000+ Dreamers
news.clinchlaw.com·Apr 28, 2026·archived copy
- Immigration Appeals Court Orders New Immigration Judge for DACA Recipient Catalina “Xóchitl” Santiago After DHS Complains About Veronica Escobar Social Media Post - El Paso Herald Post
elpasoheraldpost.com·Apr 27, 2026·archived copy
- ICE seeks to deport DACA recipient after arrest at El Paso airport
Texas Tribune·Sep 15, 2025·archived copy
- El Paso Times
- 'Free Xochitl': DACA activist still detained despite judge’s order
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