HUMSI — Human Security Initiative

Human Impact Project

A living database documenting reported immigration enforcement incidents and their human impact.

Houston mother detained by ICE faces deportation to Belize, separated from children

Sep 8, 2025·Location: Houston, TX

Country of origin: Belize

Houston mother detained by ICE faces deportation to Belize, separated from children
Photo via Instagram

Margarita Avila, a 50-year-old Houston mother, has been held in immigrant detention since March 2025 as the Trump administration seeks to deport her to Belize, a country she fled two decades ago due to threats against her family. She requested asylum more than a decade ago, and her case has remained pending since then. Her husband, José Avila, and their young sons, including 12-year-old Isaac and 10-year-old Jeremiah, have struggled with her absence, including during a Mother's Day church service where the boys had no mother to greet. José said, "It's really hard to see everything my wife is going through. It hurts not being able to be with my wife — and seeing my kids sad — because their mother is always around." Margarita is among tens of thousands of immigrants targeted for deportation under the Trump administration's stated goal of deporting 1 million immigrants annually.

Timeline

Sep 8, 2025—Report published detailing her continued detention and family's separation, including a Mother's Day without her
Mar 1, 2025—Margarita Avila detained by ICE, beginning prolonged detention as deportation to Belize is pursued
Suggest a correction, comment, or update

Sources

More incidents in Texas