A ten-year-old schoolgirl from Minnesota has been released from United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after spending a month detained at a facility in Texas. The case has highlighted ongoing concerns about the treatment of migrant children and families under aggressive immigration enforcement policies.
Release After a Month in Detention
Elizabeth Caisaguano, a fourth-grade student from the Columbia Heights school district in suburban Minneapolis, walked free from the Dilley, Texas, immigration detention centre on Tuesday night alongside her mother. School officials confirmed the release, which follows the detention of five students from the same district during what has been described as an aggressive regional immigration crackdown.
The family, originally from Ecuador, has an active asylum case pending within the US legal system. They were taken into custody by federal agents on January 6th while en route to Elizabeth's school. According to Carolina Gutierrez, principal secretary at Highland Elementary School, Elizabeth acted as an interpreter during the arrest, telling her father that officers would drop her at school. Her father waited for hours at the school with staff, but she never arrived; by day's end, both mother and daughter had been flown to Texas.
Health Concerns and Emotional Trauma
There have been significant worries about Elizabeth's wellbeing during her detention. Federal officials have confirmed that the Dilley facility, which houses families, is currently experiencing a measles outbreak. Gutierrez reported that the girl was exhibiting flu-like symptoms and her mother had broken out in hives, though they had not yet received a formal medical assessment at the time of release.
The emotional impact on the family has been profound. Tracy Xiong, a school social worker, described the father as inconsolable after the arrest, stating he was seen sitting in his car, burying his head in his hands and crying uncontrollably. Gutierrez added that the father had been sad, desperate for answers, unable to sleep, and had lost his appetite, feeling utterly helpless throughout the ordeal.
Legal Proceedings and Sudden Release
Elizabeth's case was assigned to US Judge Fred Biery, who had previously ordered the release of five-year-old Liam Ramos from the same facility over the weekend. In that case, Judge Biery criticised the government's pursuit of deportation quotas, stating it traumatised children. On Monday, Judge Biery issued an order blocking the removal or transfer of Elizabeth and her mother, giving federal authorities five days to respond to the family's release petition.
Their subsequent release on Tuesday came as a surprise to legal representatives. Bobby Painter, managing attorney with the non-profit Texas Immigration Law Council, which represents the family, stated they should never have been detained. He emphasised that the family had presented at the border as asylum seekers, were admitted to the country, and their case is still ongoing, having followed all proper procedures.
Contradictory Accounts from Authorities
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement defending the detention, claiming that after Elizabeth's mother was arrested, officers allowed her to make phone calls to place the child with a designated adult. The DHS asserted she failed to find a trusted caregiver, so officers kept the family together for the child's welfare. This account is directly contradicted by family members and school officials, who state the father was ready and willing to take custody immediately. The DHS did not respond to questions about these discrepancies.
Furthermore, the DHS stated Elizabeth's mother had a final order of removal. Painter disputed this, clarifying that while one judge had denied asylum, the family filed a timely appeal which remains pending, meaning no final removal order exists.
Broader Implications and Community Impact
Elizabeth's case follows intense international attention on Liam Ramos, whose photo went viral, but advocates stress his situation is not unique. A Guardian analysis of detention data reveals that ICE booked approximately 3,800 minors into immigrant family detention from January to October 2025, including children as young as one or two years old.
Painter argued that family detention is deeply traumatic for children, stating the practice is immoral and constitutes bad policy. He expressed hope that continued public attention would end the detention of children. Gutierrez highlighted the community's efforts to support affected families but noted the lasting trauma on students, who now fear for themselves and their classmates, wondering daily if they will see each other the next day.
The release of Elizabeth Caisaguano marks a temporary relief for one family but underscores a contentious national issue regarding immigration enforcement, the treatment of asylum seekers, and the welfare of children caught within the system.
