Ana María, a 23-year-old woman from South America, had been living happily in the United States with an open asylum case. However, after being arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), she endured such a harrowing experience that she ultimately agreed to be deported back to her native country, despite the dangers that awaited her there.
Arrest and Detention Ordeal
In January, Ana María and her boyfriend attempted to seek asylum in Canada, fearing the anti-immigration crackdown under the Trump administration. However, Canadian authorities accused her boyfriend of being a gangster and detained him, while she was sent back to the US and into ICE custody. Over the next three months, she was transferred to at least six detention facilities across multiple states, including Louisiana, Arizona, and Texas.
During each transfer, she was shackled at the wrists and ankles, often causing pain and leaving marks. Guards mocked her requests for relief, and she was frequently denied adequate food and water. In one instance, she begged for food but was told to wait while staff ate in front of her. The lights were kept on 24 hours a day, and guards yelled at night, depriving detainees of sleep.
Humiliation and Desperation
Ana María described the treatment as worse than that of criminals. She recalled being unable to contact her family because she did not know phone numbers by heart. Eventually, a volunteer organization helped her reach her mother. After learning that a judge had ordered her deportation to a third country, she reached her breaking point and asked to be sent back to her home country.
Now back with her mother, she lives in constant fear of threats from criminal gangs. She misses her life in the US, where she had built a career and independence. Her story highlights the harsh conditions in ICE detention, which she hopes will prompt change.
