Children taken at a traffic stop at Dilley Immigration Processing Center
Reported cases describe parents and children stopped in vehicles—on the way to school, soccer games, or a bus—then detained together and held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, with similar incidents reported in Minnesota, Colorado, and California. Outcomes vary: some families were released after weeks or months, others deported, one child reportedly self-deported, and some remain in detention. These reports were first documented in October 2025, became recurring by August 2026, and now make up a larger share of reported cases than earlier in the record.
First documented Oct 2025, recurring since Aug 2026. A larger share of recent stories than earlier ones.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
9 stories in 4 states. What accompanies this practice →
“The detention of Liam and my brother-in-law was cruel; they are not criminals—they were simply on their way to a soccer match. Liam is a beautiful, intelligent, and big-hearted little boy. My sister is devastated, and so are we.”
California
Colorado
Minnesota
Texas
Jesús B. and Katherine: San Antonio father says ICE made him lure 9-year-old daughter to detentionSan Antonio father Jesús Bracho says ICE forced him to lure his 9-year-old daughter Katherine from their home for detention. The two were held together over a month in Dilley before release.San Antonio, TX · Aug 28, 2026 · SA Current, News 4 San Antonio
Victor M.N. and Liam: Father and 5-year-old son detained by ICE, deported to MexicoVictor Martinez Nieto and his 5-year-old son Liam were detained at a traffic stop on their way to a soccer game and held at a Dilley detention center. They were deported together to Mexico.Austin, TX · Aug 25, 2026 · Austin American-Statesman, Scripps News, CBS Austin +3
Liam T. and Victor M.N.: 5-year-old detained with father in Austin, ICE refuses release to motherLiam Tadeo, 5, days from starting kindergarten, was detained with his father after a traffic stop in Austin and held at the Dilley family facility. His mother says his bedroom remains untouched.“The detention of Liam and my brother-in-law was cruel; they are not criminals—they were simply on their way to a soccer match. Liam is a beautiful, intelligent, and big-hearted little boy. My sister is devastated, and so are we.” — Patricia Resendiz, Liam's auntAustin, TX · Aug 20, 2026 · CBS Austin, Newsweek, The Independent +10
Alejandro and Jairo: San Antonio student and father detained by ICE driving to soccer gameAlejandro, a Churchill High School 10th grader, and his father Jairo were detained May 17 while driving to a soccer game, missing school and his mother. Rep. Joaquin Castro pushed for their release.San Antonio, TX · May 29, 2026 · SA Current, Alamo City Pulse, News 4 San Antonio
Tania W. and Ayla L.: Canadian mother and autistic daughter held three weeks after Border Patrol stopTania Warner, a 47-year-old Canadian with a valid U.S. work visa, and her autistic 7-year-old daughter were held three weeks at a Texas checkpoint, reporting abuse and chemical burns, before Warner's release on $9,500 bond.“All she kept asking me was, ’Why can’t we go home?’ And I said, well, based on the fact that we’re Canadian, this is what the government has decided that they are going to do with people like us that are living in the United States. So, we have to stay here until Papa and our lawyer can get us out. That’s all I could tell her. I had no idea what else to say.” — Tania WarnerSarita, TX · Apr 12, 2026 · The Link, The Globe and Mail, CBC +6
Gustavo S.: 13-year-old detained by Border Patrol, denied care for fever at DilleyGustavo, 13, from Tamaulipas, has been held with his mother since October 2025. He suffered fevers, a skin rash and stomach pain in detention and says he doesn't know why he was detained.San Antonio, TX · Oct 5, 2025 · The Atlantic