Fear and Uncertainty for Family After Mother's ICE Detainment

A regular day took a distressing turn for Jonathan Escalante, 18, when his mother, Vilma Cruz, 38, contacted him with alarming news—she was stopped by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while driving through Kenner, Louisiana.

"She pleaded in Spanish, insisting, ‘I haven’t done anything,’ before ending the call," Jonathan recounted to CBS News. That was their last conversation. Since then, attempts to reconnect have been futile.

A relative who was on the line with Cruz at the time reported hearing ICE officials demanding entry and then a sudden sound of shattering glass before communication cut off.

Cruz, originally from Honduras, has resided in the United States for approximately 20 years. Recently, she refrained from her job due to escalating immigration clampdowns, Jonathan shared. The family debated if she should venture out for a painting assignment the evening before.

Fearful of Raids. "She regularly discussed the potential dangers with us," Jonathan explained, acknowledging how recent operations had made everyone cautious about stepping outside.

The arrest of Cruz coincided with an initiative by the Department of Homeland Security in the New Orleans region, focusing on identifying 'criminal illegal aliens.' Jonathan is uncertain about his mother’s exact immigration status but doubts she has American citizenship. Regarding any legal issues, he was unaware of any offenses she might have committed.

ICE did not address CBS News' frequent requests for explanations regarding Cruz's detainment or the circumstances surrounding it.

Taking Care of Family. Now, Jonathan is unexpectedly taking care of his 9-year-old sister by himself. Both siblings are U.S. citizens, yet Jonathan remains anxious about possibly being detained himself. He often thinks about carrying his passport around, just in case.

Jonathan remarked, "The fear of being randomly stopped by ICE hovers over me every day." Unfortunately, this concern is not baseless. Over 170 U.S. citizens have been held by immigration forces within the current year alone.

A recent incident in New Orleans involved Jacelynn Guzman, also a U.S. citizen. "I was confronted, even after I declared my citizenship. It was frightening, and when more agents appeared, I knew I had to get out of there," she shared.

Civil Rights Response. A civic organization, the League of United Latin American Citizens, is pursuing legal action to cease these detention activities in Louisiana. The group has established a GoFundMe to assist Cruz's family with financial burdens, while it is speculated she is being kept at a facility in Mississippi.

As the family awaits any updates, Jonathan deeply remembers the last call with his mother. "Her tone carried worry, but she masked it well to shield me. Despite our ups and downs, she never let us see her burdened by pressures like bills and responsibilities," he recalled.