A two-year-old girl entered ICE custody on Thursday in Minneapolis during the detention of her father. Officials confirmed the pair were stopped while returning from a grocery trip. They were later flown to Texas. This move happened despite a court order seeking the child’s immediate release.
Family lawyer Kira Kelley said the child left detention on Friday and is recovering. City council member Jason Chavez claimed agents followed the father, broke his window, and detained both without showing a warrant.
The Department of Homeland Security disputed the account. Spokespersons said the father drove erratically and ignored lawful commands. They described him as an undocumented immigrant from Ecuador with a felony reentry record. DHS added that officers tried to hand the child to her mother, who declined.
Crowds soon gathered at the scene. Around 120 people blocked the agents’ exit. Some threw rocks and trash. Officers later restored order.
The case marked the fifth child detention by ICE in recent weeks. Another incident involved a five-year-old taken with his father after preschool. School officials criticized the tactics. DHS said agents targeted the father, not the child.
Both incidents occurred during Operation Metro Surge. The program began in December 2025. It focuses on Minnesota and deploys about 3,000 agents. The weekly cost stands near $18 million.
