Undocumented immigrant mother detained for five days after navigation error

In a distressing incident that unfolded months ago, a Guatemalan immigrant named Sarahi, living in Detroit without legal status, experienced a harrowing five-day detention alongside her two American citizen daughters. The ordeal began when Sarahi's GPS led her to mistakenly drive onto the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Detroit to Canada. This common error among Detroiters caught her off guard, leading to her immediate detainment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the security checkpoint. The family was separated from her brother, who was with them, and they were taken to a windowless office space in poor conditions with no access to legal counsel or communication with her consulate. During their detention, Sarahi was informed by immigration officials that she would be deported and had a right to consult a lawyer, yet she was hesitant to let go of her daughters amidst the fear of separation and the distressing environment they were in. As the situation continued with no updates from CBP and her children’s health deteriorating, Sarahi contemplated allowing her daughters to be placed with a guardian to ensure their well-being. Eventually, after five days of incarceration, she finally made the difficult decision to seek better conditions for her children, who were suffering from the inadequate medical attention available in the detention facility. This tragic experience highlights the flaws in the immigration system and raises serious concerns about the treatment of children who are U.S. citizens during such detainment processes. The case sparked advocacy efforts from the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center and the ACLU Michigan, who demanded transparency and a review of the conditions under which families are treated when caught in similar situations.