Latest news with #MartirGarciaLara
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
California Fourth Grader Detained By ICE Sparks Outrage
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A 9-year-old boy in California was detained by federal immigration agents at an immigration hearing. Martir Garcia Lara, a fourth-grader at Torrance Elementary School, was taken into custody along with his father on May 29 after reporting to federal authorities in downtown Los Angeles. They were transferred the next day to an immigration facility in Texas, where they are currently held pending deportation to Honduras. A spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek they remain in federal custody pending deportation to Honduras. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers wait to detain a person, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers wait to detain a person, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md. Alex Brandon/AP Why It Matters The arrest comes amid a hardline crackdown on immigration by President Donald Trump's administration, which has vowed to deport millions of migrants without legal status. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has maintained under the second Trump administration that ICE does not arrest children. What To Know "Martir Garcia-Banegas, 50, illegally entered the United States July 10, 2021 with a family member, Martir Isaac Garcia Lara, 9," a spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek. On September 1, 2022, an immigration judge issued an order for the family to be removed to Honduras. Garcia appealed this decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals; however, the appeal was dismissed on August 11, 2023, according to ICE. After being detained by officials in Los Angeles, the father and son were transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas. The administration has taken an estimated 500 children into government custody since Trump returned to power, according to CNN. Courthouses nationwide have recently become focal points in the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts. Federal agents have been stationed to arrest individuals immediately after they appear before immigration judges. Many of these individuals have been in the U.S. for less than two years, and attorneys from the Department of Homeland Security often request that their deportation cases be dismissed. When a judge approves such a request, immigrants leaving the courtroom are sometimes taken into custody by plainclothes federal agents for expedited removal. What People Are Saying A spokesperson for ICE told Newsweek: "Parents, who are here illegally, can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right, legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return." A spokesperson with Torrance Unified School District said in a statement: "It is our responsibility as a District to support the families of every student and connect them to resources and assistance for their continued education and healthy wellbeing, if, and when, a family requests it." What Happens Next Martir and his father will remain detained at a facility in southern Texas pending removal.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Torrance boy, 9, detained by ICE for planned deportation to Honduras; community outraged
Earlier this week, residents in Torrance were scrambling to find out what happened to 9-year-old Martir Garcia Lara, a fourth-grader at Torrance Elementary School. One day, he simply didn't show up for school. Teachers and PTA officials believed he was being held at a federal immigration facility with his father but could not get firm answers. Federal officials confirmed Thursday the boy and his father were taken into custody May 29 after checking in with federal officials in downtown Los Angeles. The two were transferred to an immigration facility in Texas the following day, and officials plan to deport them to Honduras. Parents with Torrance Elementary's PTA sent out a letter asking residents to reach out to elected officials to drum up support for the boy. The PTA had few answers, but was committed to making sure the public was aware that he was missing from their community. Read more: Feds arrest 36 Chinese, Taiwanese citizens in SoCal underground nightclub raid "We're all searching for answers," Torrance Elementary PTA volunteer Ria Villanueva told The Times. "When something like this happens, it shakes all of us in the community. There's not a child at our school that we don't treat as our own." The detention is the latest in a string of high-profile immigration enforcement actions over the last week, part of Trump's promised deportation crackdown. A few days ago, immigration agents raided a popular San Diego restaurant and made arrests, sparking a standoff with outraged residents. Agents also arrested Chinese and Taiwanese nationals at an underground nightclub in the Los Angeles area. The boy accompanied his father, Martir Garcia-Benegas, 50, to an immigration court facility in downtown Los Angeles on May 29, according to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Garcia-Benegas arrived in the United States on July 10, 2021, with his son. But an immigration judge ordered both the father and son to be deported to Honduras on Sept. 1, 2022. The father appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals on Aug. 11, 2023, but the appeal was dismissed. The two did not leave the country as ordered by the immigration judge, according to ICE spokesperson Monica Yoas. Federal officials referred to the boy as Martin Issac Garcia-Benegas, but Torrance Elementary knows him as Martir Garcia Lara. He has attended the school since first grade, according to Villanueva, the PTA volunteer. The boy's story was first reported by news station KTLA. Read more: ICE agents with assault rifles toss flash-bangs in trendy San Diego neighborhood. Community fights back A spokesperson with Torrance Unified School District said they are aware of the news story, but could not confirm the details. They were communicating with relatives of the father and son and authorities to better understand the situation, district spokesperson Sara Myers said in an email on Wednesday. "Out of respect for the student's privacy and to avoid spreading unverified information, we are not able to share any further information at this time," Myers said. "We remain committed to the safety and well-being of all our students and will continue to follow proper protocols as more information becomes available." After they were detained by officials in Los Angeles, the father and son were transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas. It was not immediately clear if they had legal representation. Courthouses across the country have become the latest target of Trump's immigration crackdown, where federal agents have been deployed to arrest individuals after they make their scheduled appearances before an immigration judge. Often those immigrants have been here less than two years, and attorneys from the Department of Homeland Security ask to dismiss the case from deportation proceedings. When the judge grants the request, immigrants who leave the court have been met by plainclothes federal agents who take them into custody for expedited removal. In Santa Ana and Los Angeles, those agents wore masks, surrounded migrants as they came out of court and often left family members watching distraught and in tears. Their attorneys and advocates say agents are targeting the people that are doing exactly as the government asked. Most have no criminal records, and many have children in the United States. 'They are doing everything that we ask them to, and yet are still being detained and expeditely removed from the U.S.," said Melissa Shepard, director of legal services at Immigrant Defenders Law Center. 'It's causing a lot of confusion. Folks are really fearful.' Half of California's 9 million children are part of immigrant families, with most being U.S. citizens, according to a study from UCLA. Times staff writer Rachel Uranga contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Torrance boy, 9, detained by ICE with plans to deport him to Honduras; community outraged
Earlier this week, residents in Torrance were scrambling for answers to find out what happened to 9-year-old Martir Garcia Lara, a fourth-grader at Torrance Elementary School. One day, he simply didn't show up for school. Teachers and PTA officials believed he was being held at a federal immigration facility with his father but could not get firm answers. Federal officials confirmed Thursday the boy and his father were taken into custody on May 29 after checking-in with federal officials in downtown Los Angeles. The two were transferred to an immigration facility in Texas the following day and officials plan to deport them to Honduras. Parents with Torrance Elementary's PTA sent out a letter asking residents to reach out to elected officials to drum up support for the boy. The PTA had few answers, but were committed to making sure the public was aware that he was missing from their community. 'We're all searching for answers,' Torrance Elementary PTA volunteer Ria Villanueva told The Times. 'When something like this happens, it shakes all of us in the community. There's not a child at our school that we don't treat as our own.' The detention is the latest in a string of high-profile immigration enforcement actions over the last week, part of Trump's promised deportation crackdown. A few days ago, immigration agents raided a popular San Diego restaurant and made arrests, sparking a standoff with outraged residents. Agents also arrested Chinese and Taiwanese nationals at an underground nightclub in the Los Angeles area. The boy accompanied his father, Martir Garcia-Benegas, 50, to an immigration court facility in downtown Los Angeles on May 29, according to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Garcia-Benegas arrived in the United States on July 10, 2021 with his son. But an immigration judge ordered both the father and son to be deported to Honduras on Sept. 1, 2022. The father appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals on Aug. 11, 2023 but the appeal was dismissed. The two did not leave the country as ordered by the immigration judge, according to ICE spokesperson Monica Yoas. Federal officials referred to the boy as Martin Issac Garcia-Benegas, but Torrance Elementary know him as Martir Garcia Lara. He has attended Torrance Elementary school since the first grade, according Villanueva, the PTA volunteer. The boy's story was first reported by news station KTLA. A spokesperson with Torrance Unified School District said they are aware of the news story, but could not confirm the details. They were communicating with relatives of the father and son and authorities to better understand the situation, district spokesperson Sara Myers said in an email on Wednesday. 'Out of respect for the student's privacy and to avoid spreading unverified information, we are not able to share any further information at this time,' Myers said. 'We remain committed to the safety and well-being of all our students and will continue to follow proper protocols as more information becomes available.' After they were detained by officials in Los Angeles, the father and son were transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Tex. It was not immediately clear if they had legal representation. Courthouses across the country have become the latest target of Trump's immigration crackdown, where federal agents have been deployed to arrest individuals after they make their scheduled appearances before an immigration judge. Often those immigrants have been here less than two years and attorneys from the Department of Homeland Security ask to dismiss the case from deportation proceedings. When the judge grants the request, immigrants who leave the court have been met by plainclothes federal agents who take them into custody for expedited removal. In Santa Ana and Los Angeles, those agents were masked, surrounded migrants as they came out of court and often left family members watching distraught and in tears. Their attorneys and advocates say agents are targeting the people that are doing exactly as the government asked. Most have no criminal records and many have children in the United States. 'They are doing everything that we ask them to, and yet are still being detained and expeditely removed from the U.S.,' said Melissa Shepard, director of legal services at Immigrant Defenders Law Center. 'It's causing a lot of confusion. Folks are really fearful.' Half of California's 9 million children are part of immigrant families, with most being U.S. citizens, according to a study from UCLA. Los Angeles Times staff reporter Rachel Uranga contributed to this report.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Outrage after California fourth grader is detained by ICE agents during immigration hearing
California are urgently asking for help to find a fourth grader who is being 'held captive' by immigration authorities in Texas. Torrance Elementary School student Martir Garcia Lara attended an immigration court appointment with his father in Houston on May 29 'when suddenly they were detained and separated from each other,' according to a message from the school's Parent Teacher Association. The boy and his father are reportedly in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. 'He's alone and he's not able to return home,' PTA president Jasmin King told KTLA. 'We have not received any information on why they were detained,' she said. 'All we know is that Martir is just a fourth grader who's by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesn't know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.' The Independent has requested comment from ICE and school officials. Federal authorities have taken roughly 500 children into government custody since President Donald Trump took office, according to CNN. Those children were either in homes considered to be unsafe or because the government arrested their family members or placed them in removal proceedings. The boy's alleged arrest follows a wave of immigration enforcement actions inside courthouses across the country in recent weeks, with masked officers from as many as 20 different law enforcement agencies patrolling entrances, lobbies and hallways to arrest immigrants moments after their scheduled hearings and appointments. Courthouse operations and arrests at other immigration offices have been reported in more than a dozen cities, which advocacy groups and immigration attorneys have labelled a 'dragnet' operation sweeping up immigrants who are following the law. In New York City, protests erupted after ICE arrested a high school student seeking asylum during his court appearance and after federal agents swarmed a Manhattan immigration office, where officers also arrested a congressional staffer. Similar operations have been reported across the country, from Seattle and Los Angeles to Phoenix and Miami. After taking office, the president issued an executive order that greenlights fast-track deportation proceedings for immigrants who cannot prove that they have continuously lived in the United States for more than two years. That 'expedited removal' process — historically used at the U.S.-Mexico border — is now being expanded across the country. The American Civil Liberties Union sued to block the measure, arguing people seeking asylum 'would get less due process contesting their deportation than they would contesting a traffic ticket.' The American Immigration Lawyers Association says courthouse arrests are a 'flagrant betrayal of basic fairness and due process' for people who are simply following the rules. 'Immigration courts are being weaponized, judges are coordinating with ICE to dismiss cases and immediately funnel individuals into the fast-track deportation pipeline known as expedited removal,' the group said in a statement. 'These are not fugitives. They are individuals, many who are seeking protection from torture in their countries, complying with the law.' The group has collected dozens of reports from immigration attorneys whose clients were immediately arrested after their court appearances only to be placed into expedited removal proceedings where they can be rapidly deported without an opportunity to appear before a judge. Detainees include immigrants of all ages, including families with young children and toddlers as young as two and three years old, according to the group's analysis of recent arrests. In at least one case, ICE agents detained children who were in court with their parents and attempted to arrest a mother with a nursing infant, the report found. 'These arrests appear not to be based on a need to detain individuals due to concerns over them being a flight or public safety risk,' according to the group. 'This raises serious due process concerns as these chaotic detentions will likely make people, who are otherwise trying to comply with the law, scared to appear for their court hearings.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Southern California boy detained by ICE at immigration hearing
Concerned teachers and community members are rallying together to help a Southern California fourth grader after he was detained by immigration officials. Martir Garcia Lara is a student at Torrance Elementary School. On May 29, he attended an immigration hearing in Houston, Texas, with his father. However, instead of receiving an update on his father's immigration status, the boy and his father were both detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and separated from each other. 'He's alone and he's not able to return home,' said PTA president Jasmin King. Teachers at Torrance Elementary reached out to King and the rest of the PTA, asking them for help in somehow getting the young boy and his father released and back to Southern California. 'We have not received any information on why they were detained,' King said. 'All we know is that Martir is just a fourth-grader who's by himself, without his dad, without a parent, and just in a place that he probably doesn't know, so we can only imagine what he might be feeling.' King said the boy has been a student at Torrance Elementary since the first grade. PTA members have since reached out to federal, state and local leaders to intervene and are asking other parents and community members to help in any way they can. King said she and other PTA members are also prepared to help the boy and his father with any legal aid or financial assistance should they need it. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
