UPDATE: A Chicago family is urgently fighting for the release of their father, Ramiro Cabrera, who was detained by ICE agents on October 3, 2023, during a work-related incident. The Cabrera family is grappling with the emotional impact of the situation, having only seen a brief surveillance video that captured the moment federal agents apprehended him.
At 11 a.m. on that fateful Friday, Cabrera, along with his nephew and a colleague from Cabrera Rental Center, was setting up a tent in a business parking lot in Crestwood. Within minutes, a white van arrived, and agents in fatigues apprehended the men, leaving the family shocked and desperate for answers. Mariana Cabrera, Ramiro’s daughter, expressed her heartbreak, stating, “The moment they put him in a van, we didn’t know where he was going.”
The detainment is part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the Chicago area. Ramiro Cabrera, a father of four American children with no criminal record, has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years. His case has drawn attention to the controversial conditions at the Broadview ICE facility where he was taken.
Jennifer Peyton, a former assistant chief immigration judge fired earlier this year, is now advocating for Cabrera’s release. She filed a habeas petition in federal court to prevent his transfer to a facility farther away. “I did not want him going to Louisiana or Texas,” Peyton said. She highlighted the alarming conditions at Broadview, stating, “It’s so overrun with detainees that they’re sleeping inside the bathrooms, on the floors.”
Democratic lawmakers have expressed frustration over being denied access to the facility, with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth stating, “We just want to go in and look at this facility.” Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has denied allegations of substandard conditions, claiming that ICE maintains higher standards than many U.S. prisons.
The emotional toll on the Cabrera family is profound. Fernanda Cabrera described the moment she first saw the video of her father’s arrest as “heartbreaking.” Mariana added, “His absence is definitely felt… it’s been heartbreaking for the oldest three [grandchildren].”
Cabrera’s case is further complicated by a recent ruling from the Board of Immigration Appeals, which eliminated the right to bond for undocumented immigrants, effectively mandating their detention. “This ruling has turned the immigration landscape on its head,” Peyton remarked. The Cabrera family is now caught in a legal battle that could have far-reaching implications for countless others.
Cabrera’s next court hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2023. As the family awaits his fate, they remain hopeful for his return. “I want my father back,” Mariana said, reflecting the urgency and emotional weight of their fight.
This situation highlights the growing concerns surrounding immigration enforcement in the U.S., as families like the Cabreras struggle to navigate a complex and often unforgiving legal system.
