A toddler and her father were detained by US immigration agents in Minneapolis on Thursday, sparking outrage over the government's actions. The two-year-old girl was taken from her car while it was still moving and placed in a vehicle without a child seat, according to court records and her lawyers.
The detention came as the father, Elvis Joel TE, who has been living in the US with his daughter since she arrived as a newborn, was stopped by agents in their own backyard. Agents allegedly broke the car window while the girl was inside and refused to allow the father to bring her to her mother or other family members waiting at home.
Lawyers for the family filed an emergency petition demanding that ICE release both the father and daughter, and a federal judge eventually ordered the government to release the girl by 9:30 pm. However, instead of following the court's order, immigration officials placed both the toddler and her father on a plane heading to Texas.
It was only after the family's lawyers flew back to Minnesota and obtained permission from the mother to be a temporary guardian that the federal judge ordered the government to release the girl into her care. However, it appears she has since been reunited with her mother.
The father remains detained in Minnesota, leaving his lawyer, Irina Vaynerman, to condemn the government's actions as "depravity beyond words." The incident is part of a larger pattern of aggressive enforcement by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has led to international criticism and scrutiny.
The detention came as the father, Elvis Joel TE, who has been living in the US with his daughter since she arrived as a newborn, was stopped by agents in their own backyard. Agents allegedly broke the car window while the girl was inside and refused to allow the father to bring her to her mother or other family members waiting at home.
Lawyers for the family filed an emergency petition demanding that ICE release both the father and daughter, and a federal judge eventually ordered the government to release the girl by 9:30 pm. However, instead of following the court's order, immigration officials placed both the toddler and her father on a plane heading to Texas.
It was only after the family's lawyers flew back to Minnesota and obtained permission from the mother to be a temporary guardian that the federal judge ordered the government to release the girl into her care. However, it appears she has since been reunited with her mother.
The father remains detained in Minnesota, leaving his lawyer, Irina Vaynerman, to condemn the government's actions as "depravity beyond words." The incident is part of a larger pattern of aggressive enforcement by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which has led to international criticism and scrutiny.
I'm so shocked and disturbed by this story 
. Detaining a 2-year-old girl in the middle of her own backyard and treating her like an adult is just heartbreaking 
. It's unacceptable that they would break into their car window and refuse to give the father any access to his own daughter 
. I mean, what kind of 'immigration enforcement' are we talking about here? 
The fact that this happened in our own backyard feels like a nightmare come true 
.
. It's just so unfair to the family and completely unnecessary. The government needs to take responsibility for their actions and figure out a way to make sure something like this never happens again 
. This is what I call 'systemic dysfunction' 
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. I mean, I can understand why the government wants to enforce immigration laws, but come on, detaining a 2-year-old girl? That's just not right 
. She was taken from her car while it was still moving and left without a child seat? What kind of cruel thing is that? 
. It's just so frustrating when you see stuff like this happening in the US.
. They need to do a better job of balancing enforcement with humanity and respect for human rights. That little girl deserved some love and care from her dad, not to be carted off like luggage 
. I hope the dad gets out of this situation soon, it's just heartbreaking 
.
it's like they think they're above the law or something. Newsflash: you're not! And that judge who finally released her daughter... what took him so long?! 
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do we have proof that they followed all the proper protocols or did they just make something up on the fly? need some sources on this one 
I don't think this situation was really about the immigration system being all bad, you know? Like, yeah, the dad got busted in his own backyard but it's not like he was trying to hide or anything. And let's be real, ICE is just doing their job... even if they do have a bit of a reputation for being super aggressive. The real issue here is that the little girl wasn't in her car seat and she's just 2 years old 
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. This kind of behavior just gives all immigrants nightmares and makes them more scared to even reach out for help 
. And what's the point of having a court order if you're just gonna ignore it? 
It's all just so... unnecessary 
. And can we talk about how ICE is being super aggressive with their enforcement? It's like, chill out, guys 
. There are better ways to deal with immigration issues than traumatizing a 2-year-old and her dad.
? Like, can't they see this little girl was traumatized already, being dragged from her car like that? And then they have the nerve to deny the dad visitation rights? It's not even like he committed a crime or something. Just because his wife wants more "rights" and is trying to screw him over. The government's just playing right into their hands 
. I mean, what's next? Detaining people in their own homes just for fun? This whole thing is just a perfect example of how messed up the US immigration system is 
.
And then to be put on a plane with her dad, who was basically crying and pleading to see his daughter again... it's just heartbreaking.
It's like they're trying to pull some kind of twisted prank on an innocent family. I mean, what even is the point of this? The girl was only two years old for crying out loud! She didn't know what was happening, and now she's been traumatized by these agents' actions. And the dad gets detained too?! That's just cruel.