❤️ Coming Home: Erik Payán Reunites With His Family After Month in ICE Detention
🚨🧑🔧 Houston Immigrant With Legal Status Detained in ICE Raid Despite No Criminal Record 🚨🇺🇸 American Girl With Brain Tumor Deported to Mexico Despite Citizenship, Family Fears Cartel Violence
❤️ Coming Home: Erik Payán Reunites With His Family After Month in ICE Detention
Lexi Parra and Eileen Grench, Houston Landing.- One month after being arrested during a mass immigration raid in Colony Ridge, Erik Payán—a longtime Texas resident, tire shop owner, and father of three—finally returned home to an emotional welcome.
Payán, who was among more than 100 people detained by ICE on Feb. 24 during a controversial enforcement operation in the majority-Latino community, had no criminal record. His arrest devastated his family, who scrambled to raise $5,000 for his bond while facing mounting financial, emotional, and medical challenges.
His wife, Alejandrina Morales, fought tirelessly to free him while caring for their daughter Erika, who was recovering from a leg amputation, and granddaughter Kyomi, who had a heart defect. Fundraisers, lotería games, and community support helped them survive until Erik was granted bond just before Erika’s birthday.
The family wept and embraced when he finally stepped through the front door on March 21. Payán had lost over 20 pounds and contracted a respiratory illness in detention.
“I still can’t believe I’m going to see my husband. It’s like a long-awaited dream,” Morales said.
That night, the Payán family celebrated two birthdays and one reunion with candles, food, and the song “Las Mañanitas.” After a month of fear and uncertainty, Erik Payán was once again at the head of the table—where he belonged.
🚨🇺🇸 American Girl With Brain Tumor Deported to Mexico Despite Citizenship, Family Fears Cartel Violence
Erika De Los Reyes, The Monitor.- A 10-year-old U.S. citizen with a brain tumor was deported to Mexico in February 2025 alongside her undocumented parents and five siblings after being detained by U.S. Border Patrol at the Sarita checkpoint, despite proof of citizenship and a letter from Texas Children’s Hospital requesting travel for emergency medical care. According to a complaint filed by the Texas Civil Rights Project, Customs and Border Protection held the family for hours and subjected them to humiliating treatment before offering them the choice of family separation or deportation. They are now living in fear at an undisclosed location in Mexico, where cartel violence is rampant. The girl, who previously had brain surgery and suffers from partial paralysis and seizures, is unable to access consistent medical care. The TCRP calls for an immediate DHS investigation and humanitarian parole to allow the family to return for medical treatment.
🚨🧑🔧 Houston Immigrant With Legal Status Detained in ICE Gang Raid Despite No Criminal Record
Anna-Catherine Brigida, Houston Landing.- Kevin Zaldaña Ramírez, a 20-year-old Salvadoran immigrant with legal status, was released from immigration detention on a $3,000 bond Thursday after being arrested during a Feb. 25 ICE operation targeting alleged gang members. Despite holding a valid work permit and having no criminal record, Zaldaña Ramírez was detained at his job site. ICE later claimed he was considered an enforcement priority under current guidelines. His mother, Yolanda Ramírez, and immigrant rights advocates from FIEL strongly rejected the gang allegation, emphasizing his clean record and his vital role in supporting his visually impaired mother. Latino advocate Carlos Eduardo Espina paid his bond. The case has sparked concerns about discriminatory profiling and the Trump administration’s broad interpretation of who qualifies as a threat under its immigration crackdown. Zaldaña Ramírez plans to resume work and pursue a green card through his Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
Central Facts:
Name: Kevin Zaldaña Ramírez
Age: 20
Nationality: El Salvador
Status: Special Immigrant Juvenile Status with valid work permit
Detained by ICE: February 25, 2025, at a construction site in Houston
Bond granted: March 19, 2025, amount set at $3,000
Bond paid by: Carlos Eduardo Espina via FIEL’s network
No criminal record; alleged gang ties disputed
Released: March 21, 2025
Mother: Yolanda Ramírez, visually impaired, dependent on Kevin
Advocacy group: FIEL (Familias Inmigrantes y Estudiantes en la Lucha)
ICE justification: Targeting transnational gangs during joint operation with Texas DPS
Public concerns: Racial profiling, wrongful detention, misuse of gang affiliations
Next steps: Continue green card application process via Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
🛑🏠 ICE Visit to San Diego Homeless Shelter Sparks Scrutiny Under New City Enforcement Guidelines
Blake Nelson, The San Diego Union-Tribune.- A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer entered a San Diego homeless shelter on Wednesday and detained one person, triggering renewed attention to how immigration enforcement interacts with city-funded service providers. The visit, confirmed by Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy, occurred at a downtown tent shelter with hundreds of beds. San Diego recently issued detailed guidelines for how shelter staff should respond to ICE activity. These include documenting encounters, refusing to answer agent inquiries about residents, and requiring a judicial warrant to enter non-public areas. The warrant details and reason for detention remain unclear. The event marks the first known ICE visit to a San Diego shelter since President Trump’s return to office and the end of previous protections for “sensitive locations.” Advocates worry such actions could deter vulnerable people from seeking aid. The city’s housing agencies and nonprofits prioritize privacy and safety over immigration enforcement cooperation.