ICE Detains Woman Who Has Lived in US Since She Was a Baby

By Billal Rahman

Immigration Reporter

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A woman who has lived in the United States since she was a baby was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody following a routine traffic stop in Alabama, according to her family.

Sonia Parris, 30, who was brought to the U.S. from Mexico at 2 months old, was detained after being arrested in Clay County on November 17, her ex-husband Dalton Parris told Newsweek. Dalton, 34, said Sonia's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status had lapsed in recent years, leaving her without valid identification.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told Newsweek that ICE took Sonia into custody after local police arrested her on charges that included possessing drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license. She was arrested by St. Clair County deputies for failure to appear on a ticket related to an expired license, according to Al.com, a local news outlet.

Dalton told Newsweek that Sonia was stopped for speeding and arrested on a warrant related to a previous failure to appear for court on an expired license and car tag, both of which he said stemmed from her expired DACA documents.

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"I believe that violation was for an expired license and car tag, which were due to lapsed DACA documentation," Dalton said.

DACA provides temporary protection from deportation for certain young adults, often referred to as "Dreamers," and grants them eligibility for work authorization. Currently, the federal government is not accepting new applications for the program because of federal court rulings, though individuals already in the program may apply for renewals.

"Sonia Corona is her current legal name after our divorce, but her most recent documentation still shows Sonia Parris from our marriage," Dalton said.

The Trump administration has been detaining and deporting migrants without legal status who have criminal histories, advancing a wider effort of mass removals. The push has been supported by increased funding for ICE and Border Patrol following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which has supercharged funding for the government's deportation machine.

Sonia was booked into the St. Clair County Jail on November 17, where family members paid fees and a $50 bond the next day. When relatives arrived to pick her up, they were informed that ICE had placed a hold on her and would take custody within 48 hours, Dalton said.

Sonia was transferred through at least three Alabama facilities before being moved to Louisiana, the family said. Dalton claims that communication has been nearly impossible since ICE took custody.

Sonia remains in federal custody at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, according to the ICE detainee locator.

She has been in the United States since she was two months old, arriving in 1995, Dalton said.

He said the detention has ripped the family apart. "Her family is devastated. Just completely destroyed," he said. He added their 12-year-old son, who is a U.S. citizen, has been especially affected.

"I am heartbroken and devastated for her, her family, and her children. My son is my world, and it breaks me to see him so upset," he said.

"I will be 13 on November 28th. This is my first birthday without my mama. It is really tough because it is also Thanksgiving this week, and it is hard to feel excited about it," Sonia's son Taylor Parris told Newsweek. "It feels like there is fog in my head, and the only thing I can see through the fog is my being in a cell. I don't know what it looks like inside the facility, but in my head, she is crying and scared behind bars."

He said he has spoken with his mother only a few times since she was taken into custody. “She checks on me and asks if I am okay, and tells me she loves me. She told me she is grateful for everyone sharing her story, and she is scared.”

Taylor Parris said the emotional toll has affected his school attendance, causing him to have to take time off.

"I couldn't stop crying, and I did not get a lot of sleep the first night when he told me. I love school but I have not thought about it since I found out about my mom."

Dalton confirmed that his son initially refused to eat the day after finding out about the detention. He added that Sonia's family were seeking legal assistance ahead of her immigration hearing on December 16.

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