When Donald Trump is in power, words like ‘outrage’, ‘under fire’, and ‘backlash for his immigration policies’ seem to be the only ones we writers are bound to use. Why? Thanks to his abrupt decisions that they almost always cause outrage. For instance, in a recent case, parents and teachers in Southern California have raised the alarm over a fourth-grade student who is reportedly being held in immigration custody in Texas without his father.
This is the story of Martir Garcia Lara, a Torrance Elementary School student detained by U.S. immigration authorities after attending a court appointment with his father in Houston on May 29. According to the school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA), the duo were suddenly separated and taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to The Independent, Martir was alone and could not return home. PTA president Jasmin King told KTLA. “We don’t know why they were detained. We all know that Martir is just a young boy, separated from his dad, in an unfamiliar place, likely scared and confused.”
These abrupt detentions and arrests began when Donald Trump returned to power for his second term in January 2025 and rolled out a series of executive orders, which included deportation proceedings for immigrants who cannot prove that they have continuously lived in America for more than two years.
Since Donald Trump took office, federal authorities have taken hundreds of children into custody (as per CNN), often because their homes were considered unsafe or their parents were arrested and placed in criminal proceedings. Martir’s detention comes amid a surge in aggressive enforcement across states like New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Miami.
Alex Woodward Outrage after California fourth grader is detained by ICE agents during immigration hearing | The Independent https://t.co/c7HZq7FJ1s
— Terry McCarty (@TVMCCA) June 5, 2025
Martir Garcia Lara is waiting for his father, who has no idea when he will return. Meanwhile, the officials of the little boy’s school, Torrance Unified School District, said they are still gathering details about the case and are working with the family and authorities. “We are committed to the safety and well-being of all our students,” the district said in a statement to The Independent.
There are many individuals like Martir Garcia Lara who are detained moments after their scheduled hearings. One recent case in New York involved the arrest of a high school student seeking asylum. Another involved a federal raid at a Manhattan immigration office where agents also detained a congressional staffer.
Despite the Trump administration receiving intense backlash for the ruthless way it handled migrants under this policy, the lawmakers don’t seem to care. The American Civil Liberties Union has challenged the order, asserting that it strips people of due process and makes it harder for asylum seekers to defend their rights.
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The Liberties Union body highly condemned the recent arrests of the individuals mentioned above and called the process “a betrayal of basic fairness.” Reportedly, the body also claimed that immigration judges are now working with ICE to clear out these cases, which seem completely unnecessary from a public point of view.
Many said that the Trump administration is purposely creating fear and chaos among people, discouraging immigrants from showing up to court and complying with legal processes.”
