Green Card Holder Mom of Toddler Detained by ICE Returning From Wedding

A 24-year-old woman from Vermont named Esther Ngoy Tekele was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when she returned to the U.S. after attending a wedding in Canada, her family told local news stations.

Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for comment via email.

Why It Matters

President Donald Trump campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration ramped up immigration enforcement since his return to office in January. Recent polls, however, suggest some Americans are turning on Trump’s immigration policy amid reports that individuals with no criminal records or nonviolent offenses are being targeted.

The administration said it deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants in the initial months of the presidency, and many individuals have been deported following Trump invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been criticized and blocked by judges.

Tekele’s case reflects the concerns of immigrants living in the U.S. amid the mass deportations, many of whom fear they could face detainment or deportation regardless of whether they have a criminal record. Reuters reported that about 7,800 migrants with no criminal record were arrested by ICE in June.

What to Know

Esther Ngoy Tekele, who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is the mother of a young child, was detained by immigration authorities on July 6 while entering the U.S. at the Highgate Springs Port of Entry, reported local news station WPTZ.

ICE data shows that Tekele is being held by immigration authorities, while WPTZ reported that she is being held at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington.

Her brother, Coco Ngoy, told the news station he believes his family was racially profiled while reentering the country.

“I can say we were treated like slaves because you could even tell from the body language—from the nonverbal language—how disrespectful some of the officers were,” he said.

Coco Ngoy said that after a three-hour wait, officers told everyone they could go except for Tekele. She was subsequently transferred into ICE custody.

Tekele has been living in Vermont for four years but has made several trips to Canada over the past few years. In addition to having a 2-year-old son, she is the primary caregiver for her mother, the station reported. She has a valid permanent resident card, also known as a green card, and no criminal record, her lawyer told the news station.

According to court documents, Tekele was unable to communicate with her legal counsel “for several days while in detention,” and the basis of her detention remains unknown. She said she was arrested and is being detained in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

There have been numerous reports of migrants living in the U.S. being detained amid Trump’s immigration crackdown. For instance, a Michigan mother of two is facing deportation after reporting an alleged assault to her local police. A Brazilian man living in Florida with a valid Florida ID and work permit was detained while visiting the Grand Canyon last month.

What People Are Saying

Coco Ngoy told the news station: “People who can make decisions, people who have the influence — I’m just asking them to step up and help.”

Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, told CNN earlier this year: “ICE is, they’re out there enforcing the law today. And of course, as I’ve said numerous times, they’re focusing on public safety threats. That’ll be our priority.”