immigration news - Great USA News

What started as an ordinary day for the Guerrero-Cruz family turned into a nightmare when 18-year-old Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while walking his dog in Van Nuys. The high school senior was only days away from starting his final year at Reseda Charter High School when agents took him into custody.

But the family’s ordeal did not stop there. This week, they were stunned once again when they learned that ICE had transferred the teenager to Arizona without informing any relatives, a move that U.S. Rep. Luz Rivas (D-North Hollywood) has strongly criticized.

According to Rivas’ office, which reviewed ICE detention records and spoke to the family, Guerrero-Cruz was quietly moved out of Adelanto Detention Facility in San Bernardino County late Monday night. He was then transported to a remote holding facility in Arizona’s desert region.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

18-year-old high school senior detained by ICE in Van Nuys
Transferred to Arizona without family notification
Scheduled for Louisiana transfer, then returned to Adelanto
Rep. Luz Rivas pushes for mandatory family notification within 24 hours
Deportation to Chile pending after visa overstay
ICE transfer flights increased 90% in three months

Family Left in the Dark

The transfer shocked his family, who had no idea where he was for hours. ICE did not provide any prior notification to his relatives.

On Tuesday night, the situation grew more complicated when Guerrero-Cruz was scheduled for another transfer to Louisiana, a key hub for deportation flights. However, at the last moment, he was taken off the plane and sent back to Adelanto, where he is currently being held.

“Benjamin and his family deserve answers behind ICE’s inconsistent and chaotic decision-making process,” said Rep. Luz Rivas in a statement. “We need to know why Benjamin was initially transferred to Arizona, why he was then slated to go to Louisiana, and why the family was not notified about his whereabouts during these transfers.”

A Push for Legislative Change

In response to cases like Guerrero-Cruz’s, Rivas introduced a new bill this week that would require ICE to notify an immediate family member within 24 hours of a detainee’s transfer.

“Currently, ICE only has to notify family members in the event of a detainee’s death,” Rivas explained. “Benjamin’s story is not unique. Many immigrant families in my district and across the country do not know where their loved ones are after they are taken by ICE.”

Why Was He Detained?

The Department of Homeland Security has yet to respond to inquiries about this specific case. ICE has previously stated that Guerrero-Cruz is awaiting deportation to Chile after overstaying his visa, which required him to leave the United States by March 15, 2023.

Guerrero-Cruz was arrested on August 8 and initially held in downtown Los Angeles for a week. During that period, he was also briefly moved to a detention center in Santa Ana before being transferred to Adelanto on August 15, according to a former teacher who visited him in custody.

A National Trend of Frequent Transfers

The teen’s experience reflects a broader pattern of ICE’s frequent detainee transfers across the country, a practice that immigrant advocates say creates chaos and isolates detainees from their families and legal support.

Between May and July, ICE conducted 2,022 domestic transfer flights—a 90% jump compared to the same period last year, according to flight data compiled by immigrant rights advocate Tom Cartwright.

Cartwright suggests the surge in transfers may be tied to a need to optimize bed space as detention numbers have soared. “Detention figures rose from 39,152 on December 29 to 56,945 by July 26,” his report stated.

Advocates Call Policy “Cruel”

Immigrant advocates have condemned these practices.

“The Trump administration’s detention policies are cruel,” said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, spokesperson for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights L.A. “It seems they are detaining people for as long as possible and moving them from place to place for no reason other than because they can. These midnight transfers create chaos, confusion, and minimize access to legal representation.”

Legal Challenges and Communication Barriers

Attorneys also confirm an uptick in detainee transfers. Susham M. Modi, an immigration attorney in Houston, said detainees are often moved to states with fewer legal resources, such as Oklahoma, making it harder to find attorneys willing to take complex federal cases.

Families can use ICE’s Online Detainee Locator to find loved ones, but it is often outdated, and many families are unaware of how to use it. Additionally, detainees usually cannot make outgoing calls until someone deposits money into their account, adding another hurdle to communication.

The Human Impact

For the Guerrero-Cruz family, the experience has been traumatic. What began as a routine day in Van Nuys has turned into a series of late-night transfers, uncertainty, and unanswered questions.

Rivas and immigrant advocates argue that this case underscores the need for transparency, accountability, and humane treatment in immigration enforcement policies.

The case of Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz shines a light on the growing controversy surrounding ICE detainee transfers and lack of family notification. With detention numbers climbing and transfer flights surging by 90%, families are increasingly left in the dark about their loved ones’ whereabouts. Lawmakers like Rep. Luz Rivas are calling for urgent reforms to ensure transparency and accountability in immigration enforcement.

For Guerrero-Cruz and many others, these unexplained transfers highlight a critical question: Should ICE be allowed to move detainees across state lines without informing their families? Until there is a clear policy change, immigrant families will continue to face uncertainty, legal hurdles, and emotional distress in navigating the U.S. deportation process.

Appreciating your time:

We appreciate you taking the time to read our most recent article! We appreciate your opinions and would be delighted to hear them. We value your opinions as we work hard to make improvements and deliver material that you find interesting.

Post a Comment:

In the space provided for comments below, please share your ideas, opinions, and suggestions. We can better understand your interests thanks to your input, which also guarantees that the material we offer will appeal to you. Get in Direct Contact with Us: Please use our “Contact Us” form if you would like to speak with us or if you have any special questions. We are open to questions, collaborations, and, of course, criticism. To fill out our contact form, click this link.

Stay Connected:

Don’t miss out on future updates and articles.

A 20-year-old South Korean woman, Yeonsoo Go, was unexpectedly detained by ICE moments after attending what her lawyer described as a routine immigration court hearing in New York. Though her religious visa is reportedly valid until December, federal officials claim she overstayed her visa by over two years. With a pending renewal application and no warning from the court, her sudden arrest has triggered public protests, drawing faith leaders and community voices into a growing debate on visa enforcement and expedited removal proceedings. The mystery now deepens around her whereabouts and legal status.

Routine Hearing Turns Unexpected

Go had appeared in immigration court last Thursday, where her legal representation claims that everything proceeded normally. The judge reportedly set her next court appearance for October and raised no major issues. However, soon after she exited the courtroom, ICE agents approached and detained her on the spot.

Her attorney maintains that Go’s presence in the country was lawful and supported by appropriate documentation. The arrest came as a shock not only to Go but also to her supporters and legal team.

Federal Authorities Give Their Version

In contrast to Go’s legal counsel’s claims, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a sharply worded statement over the weekend. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told FOX 5 NY:

“Yeonsoo Go, an illegal alien from South Korea, overstayed her visa that expired more than two years ago. President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring integrity to the visa program and ensuring it is not abused to allow aliens a permanent one-way ticket to remain in the U.S.”

She further confirmed:

“ICE arrested her on July 31 and placed her in expedited removal proceedings.”

The DHS position sharply contradicts Go’s attorney, who insists that her visa remains in good standing and that her case was progressing through the proper legal channels.

Outpouring of Community Support

Go’s sudden detention has not gone unnoticed. In the days following the incident, a crowd of faith leaders, community members, elected officials, and friends gathered outside the courthouse where she was arrested. Their collective message was one of concern, solidarity, and frustration over what they perceive as an increasingly aggressive stance toward immigrants, even those complying with legal procedures.

Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, stood among the demonstrators and said:

“We call for the end of weaponization in our courts. We stand up for a New York and a country that respects the dignity of every person.”

Protesters carried signs and shared stories of Go’s contributions to her school and church communities, painting a picture of a young woman well-integrated into American society.

Fears Over Her Whereabouts

Since her detention, Go’s supporters claim they have been unable to reach her. The lack of communication has intensified worries that she may be transferred to a different ICE facility or face expedited deportation without her legal team being notified.

Advocates have demanded clarity and accountability regarding her current status and next steps in the legal process. With her court hearing still scheduled for October, it remains unclear how or whether she will be able to participate in future proceedings while in detention.

A Larger Debate Unfolds

Go’s case has emerged at a moment when national immigration policy continues to be a deeply divisive issue. Supporters argue that her detention reflects a broader shift toward more stringent enforcement tactics that often ignore individual circumstances. Meanwhile, federal authorities argue they are upholding immigration law by preventing individuals from overstaying visas or bypassing the system.

As legal questions mount and community pressure builds, what happens next in Yeonsoo Go’s case could have wider implications for how immigration procedures are handled for young visa holders across the country.

Yeonsoo Go’s unexpected detention has stirred sharp attention to the contrasting narratives surrounding her immigration status. As legal questions intensify and supporters rally for transparency, her case now stands at the crossroads of policy, procedure, and public sentiment. While federal authorities cite visa violations, her advocates demand clarity and justice. With her court date ahead and communication still lacking, the unfolding situation continues to reflect the broader tensions within America’s immigration system—where legality, humanity, and enforcement often collide in silence.