A two-year-old girl was released from ICE custody on Friday afternoon after a harrowing ordeal that began with her detention alongside her father in Minneapolis. According to the family lawyer, Kira Kelley, the toddler was flown to Texas before being returned to her mother, despite a court order mandating her immediate release.
The child, identified in court documents as C.R.T.V., was taken into custody with her father, Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, during a “targeted enforcement operation” conducted by agents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Initially held at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, they were later transferred to Texas, raising significant legal and ethical concerns.
“The child is out of detention as of this afternoon and recovering from this horrific ordeal,” Kelley stated, emphasizing the emotional toll on the family. While the toddler has been released, her father remains in custody, further complicating the family’s situation as they navigate the immigration system.
Both C.R.T.V. and her father are citizens of Ecuador. The toddler has lived in Minneapolis since her birth and has a pending asylum application. This incident unfolds against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny on immigration enforcement practices, particularly involving children.
The detention of C.R.T.V. and her father comes on the heels of another incident involving a five-year-old boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, who was taken from his home during a similar enforcement action. Public outcry has intensified regarding these federal agents' methods, which some accuse of being aggressive and unlawful.
In the case of Tipan-Echeverria, DHS reported that he was driving erratically with his child in the vehicle. When agents attempted to take him into custody, he parked the car but allegedly refused to comply with commands to open the door or lower the window. The encounter escalated with agents entering the family’s property without a warrant, leading to a confrontation that involved breaking a window of their vehicle.
Video footage from the scene shows a crowd surrounding the armed federal agents, with protesters expressing their outrage at the situation. Some demonstrators were heard shouting, “Help him!” as tensions escalated. The DHS reported that approximately 120 individuals surrounded the agents, leading to the deployment of crowd control measures.
According to the family attorney, the child’s mother was present during the incident and attempted to take custody of her daughter. However, agents allegedly prevented the mother from reaching her child, which further fueled public outrage regarding the actions of ICE agents. The affidavit reveals that the mother was terrified and stepped back inside their home when agents approached.
In a dramatic twist, the family’s attorney filed an emergency petition for the immediate release of C.R.T.V. due to her lack of a criminal history. The court granted the petition, stating that the risk of irreparable harm was overwhelming and ordered her release to the attorney by 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. However, by 8:30 p.m., the father and daughter were already on a flight to Texas, despite the court’s order issued just 19 minutes earlier.
Following the intervention of the family’s attorney, DHS stated they would return the child to Minnesota. However, Kelley has expressed frustration, stating she has been unable to contact her clients since their detention.
This troubling incident raises significant questions about the treatment of families within the immigration system and the adherence to legal protocols by federal agents. As the father remains in custody and the family grapples with the aftermath of this incident, advocates continue to call for reforms in immigration enforcement practices to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children.