A Canadian mother and her seven-year-old daughter, who has autism, have been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas since Saturday, according to family members. Tania Warner and her daughter Ayla Lucas were stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in Sarita, Texas, on 14 March while driving home from a baby shower.
Edward Warner, Tania's husband and a US citizen, said he presented his identification, while Tania showed her Texas driving licence, work visa, and 'actual visa'. Despite this, ICE agents took Tania for fingerprinting and later took Ayla, neither of whom returned. The family is being held at the Rio Grande Valley Central processing centre in McAllen, Texas.
Amber Sinclair, Tania's cousin, expressed confusion over the detention, noting that Tania has a valid social security card and a visa valid until 2030. She fears the pair could be deported, separating them from Edward and the rest of the family. The family is raising funds for legal assistance.
Edward Warner described the conditions at the detention centre as poor, with overcrowding, loud noise, and inadequate bedding and food. He said his wife and daughter are 'very stressed out right now'. Global Affairs Canada confirmed it is aware of the case but cited privacy considerations in declining to provide further details.
Audrey Macklin, an immigration law professor at the University of Toronto, warned that detention, especially of children, can be traumatic and have lasting effects. She urged Canadian officials to visit the family and provide legal counsel, highlighting the risks faced by documented workers living in the US.
