In a heartbreaking turn of events, a young family’s hope for a better future has been shattered after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained a breastfeeding mother, leaving her husband—a proud Marine veteran—to fight tirelessly for her release. What began as a quest for legal status and a green card quickly spiraled into a nightmare that has upended their lives.

Paola, now 25, was born in Mexico and arrived in the United States in 2014 with her mother. She didn’t speak English and didn’t understand much of what was happening, her husband recounts today.

Her mother submitted an asylum application. But mother and daughter did not get along, and soon Paola ended up alone. She spent the rest of her teenage years in homeless shelters.

In 2022, Adrian met Paola at a club in Palm Springs, California, during his last year in the military. “We officially started dating a month later. Then we had our first child, Noah, and got married in February 2024,” he says.

Breastfeeding her infant at the time of detention, the mother’s distress was palpable. Her young child, now without her mother’s care, faces an uncertain future. Meanwhile, her husband, a Marine veteran who has fought for the safety of others, has now become a fierce advocate for his wife’s freedom. He has rallied community support, legal experts, and advocacy groups to fight for her release, emphasizing her innocence and her vital role as a mother.

Legal teams and advocacy groups are working tirelessly to secure her release, arguing that detaining a breastfeeding mother—especially one with no criminal record—contradicts the principles of fairness and compassion. The family’s story has garnered media attention, sparking calls for reform and greater empathy toward vulnerable immigrants.

Despite the anguish, the young family remains hopeful. They continue to advocate for her release, emphasizing her innocence and her integral role as a mother and wife. Their story underscores the urgent need for humane policies that recognize the human side of immigration enforcement and prioritize families’ well-being.