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16-year-old Ecuadorian asylum-seeker detained by ICE, relocated to out-of-state facility

Jan 15, 2026 · Minnesota, MN, Ecuador

16-year-old Ecuadorian asylum-seeker detained by ICE, relocated to out-of-state facility

ICE agents detained Sebastian, a 16-year-old Ecuadorian asylum-seeker, in Minneapolis in January 2026 during an interior arrest while he was driving alone, seizing his phone after he called his father. Despite his father living in the U.S., Sebastian was labeled an "unaccompanied minor" and transferred to the Bridgeway shelter in Michigan, making it difficult for his family and attorneys to locate him. The case illustrates how the "unaccompanied minor" designation can impede family unity protections and legal access even when a parent resides in the country. While in custody, Sebastian reported receiving vaccines without consent.

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