Advocates Decry Targeting of Migrants as Thousands of US Citizens’ Spouses, Parents Caught Up in Crackdown
Advocates decry targeting of migrants as thousands – In the spring of 2025, Maria Flores found herself in a tense situation at a Tennessee courthouse. She had driven her husband there to settle a traffic fine, expecting a brief encounter. However, the hours of waiting and the sheriff’s vague responses hinted at a larger issue. “I went to check in the lobby and kept asking the sheriff if everything was OK,” Flores recounted. “They kept telling me they couldn’t share details.” Her anxiety grew when she spotted federal immigration officers, confirming her suspicion: her husband was being detained. This moment marked the beginning of a broader narrative about how the Trump administration’s policies have ensnared not only undocumented immigrants but also their families, many of whom are US citizens.
A Case of Unlawful Detention
Orlin Carrasco, a 17-year-old from Honduras who arrived in the US in 2013, was among those affected. Despite paying court fees and having no criminal convictions, he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during a routine visit. His wife, Flores, described the scene with a mix of confusion and dread. “They pulled him aside and detained him immediately,” she said. Carrasco was sent to a Louisiana detention center and has remained there since. His attorney, Alexandra Lopez, argued that his detention was unjust. “We have a young man from Honduras who was targeted,” Lopez explained, noting that across the country, individuals with no criminal history are being caught in the net of immigration enforcement.
“He’s a contributor to our society, supporting a family who are US citizens,” Lopez added. “I’ve done everything the right way,” Carrasco said in a video call with his wife. “I’ve asked ICE for a reason and they don’t answer me.”
Policy Impact and Data Insights
The DHS’s stance on the crackdown has been clear: it emphasizes enforcement of immigration laws to protect national security. In a statement to ABC News, the department claimed to be “enforcing the law as it was actually written” to “keep America safe.” Yet, data from ICE reveals a different picture. An analysis by ABC News shows that over 400,000 individuals have been detained in the first 14 months of the second Trump administration, many without a violent felony conviction. This accounts for just 3% of all detainees, according to government records.
The impact extends to families. In the first eight months of 2025 alone, ICE apprehended the parents of approximately 14,450 US-born children. Over 9,700 children experienced at least one parent being placed into immigration detention, a number surpassing previous years. Of these, more than 7,000 parents were eventually deported. Similarly, the agency detained 4,843 spouses of US citizens, with over 2,000 of them deported during the first seven months of the administration’s term.
Advocates argue that these numbers highlight a pattern of targeting families, particularly those with mixed immigration status. “The rise in detentions and deportations has made it urgent for us to call for legislation that provides a pathway for undocumented immigrants to remain in the US,” said a representative from the American Families United organization. This push has led to the introduction of the Dignity Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at shielding certain undocumented individuals from deportation.
Stories of Family Separation
Carlos Della Valle, a husband and father, shared his own experience of being detained. After nearly nine months in federal custody, he was released in April 2025. During his time in detention, he was transferred to over a dozen facilities, including the notorious Florida center dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz.” His wife, Angela Della Valle, a US citizen, described their ordeal. “I know I’m not an American, but I feel like an American,” Carlos said, reflecting on his life in the US. “I’ve lived here for so long—more than half my life.”
“He loves his country, I love my country, and we made a life here,” Angela told ABC News. “And so many other families have had their lives disrupted by this system.”
The Della Valle couple’s story underscores the human cost of the administration’s approach. While the DHS asserts it does not separate families, it does allow for the possibility of detaining parents while children are placed with a designated guardian. This policy, though framed as a safeguard, has left many families in limbo. “Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates,” the department stated in its latest release.
Advocacy and the Call for Reform
Immigrant advocates are increasingly vocal about the need for reform. They argue that the current system disproportionately affects families who are not a threat to national security. “This isn’t just about enforcing laws—it’s about creating a system that punishes people for being part of a family,” said one activist. The Dignity Act, which has drawn bipartisan support, is seen as a potential solution. It would allow undocumented immigrants in mixed-status households to apply for residency through a streamlined process, reducing the risk of family separation.
While the administration defends its actions as necessary for border security, critics question the long-term consequences. “We’re detaining people who have contributed to society and have no criminal record,” Lopez pointed out. “This is a form of systemic discrimination.” The data supports this concern: of the 400,000 individuals detained, only 3% have violent felony convictions, suggesting that many are being caught in a broader, more aggressive campaign.
As the numbers grow, so does the demand for change. Families like the Carrascos and the Della Valles are no longer outliers but part of a larger trend. Their stories, captured in courtrooms and detention centers, serve as a reminder of the human impact behind policy decisions. “This is not just about immigration—it’s about the people who are being forced to leave behind everything they’ve built,” said a spokesperson for American Families United. The fight for the Dignity Act and similar measures continues, as advocates seek to protect families from the ongoing crackdown.
Related Developments
In a separate development, ICE announced plans to stop reporting deaths of newly released detainees. This decision has raised concerns about transparency in the agency’s operations. Meanwhile, the popular reads section highlights ongoing news, including Iran live updates on US drone strikes, Israel’s military actions in Iran, and the DOJ’s appeal of a Kennedy Center ruling. These stories, while varied, reflect the broader context of political and social tensions shaping the nation’s immigration landscape.
As the debate over immigration policy intensifies, the stories of those caught in the net—like Orlin Carrasco and Carlos Della Valle—continue to humanize the issue. Their experiences illustrate the real-world consequences of enforcement strategies that prioritize speed over fairness, leaving families to navigate a system that often feels arbitrary and unjust. For many, the fight to remain in the US is not just a legal battle, but a fight for survival, stability, and belonging.
