ICE detains mother breastfeeding her baby, family rallies for her release

In the United States, a mother named Paola Clouatre was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on May 27, 2025, after going in for a status hearing. Paola, who arrived in the U.S. from Mexico in 2014, and her husband Adrian Clouatre, a service-disabled Marine Corps veteran, had been grappling with various challenges regarding her immigration status. They were unaware of a deportation order issued in February 2018 until just a week prior to her detention, which stemmed from Paola not attending an immigration hearing, a notification of which had allegedly been sent to her mother who did not inform her. Adrian, while managing to care for their two young children, has been advocating for his wife's rights, insisting that she be allowed to use a breast pump while detained, and has been making lengthy visits to the detention center where she is held. A lawyer for the family is working to reopen Paola’s case based on the failure to notify her of the deportation order, with hopes that the immigration judge may understand the circumstances surrounding the misunderstanding. Adrian's situation has worsened as he struggles to maintain both work and family duties amid the uncertainty of Paola's legal status and health in detention, especially with his infant daughter relying on her mother's breast milk. The couple’s story has drawn attention to broader immigration policy issues, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticizing ICE's approach to detaining law-abiding immigrant families, calling for necessary reforms. The case exemplifies a troubling aspect of the immigration system, stressing the need for oversight and compassion towards families affected by detention policies.