6-Year-Old Boy with Leukemia Detained by ICE at Courthouse, Misses Critical Treatment
A 6-year-old boy with leukemia was detained by ICE at a courthouse, then missed treatment as his symptoms worsened in custody, prompting a federal lawsuit over civil rights violations.
Immigration Enforcement Under Fire After Courthouse Arrest of Honduran Family
A Honduran family is suing the Trump administration following the detention of a 6-year-old boy with leukemia and his 9-year-old sister at a Los Angeles immigration court, alleging violations of constitutional rights and inhumane treatment during an encounter with federal agents on May 29, 2025, according to a report by Texas Public Radio.
Courthouse Confrontation Sparks Legal Challenge
The mother and her two children, who legally entered the U.S. via the CBP One app in October 2024, had been granted parole and were complying with all legal procedures. Their presence at the court that day was part of an ongoing asylum process after fleeing violence in Honduras. However, their case was abruptly dismissed, and ICE agents in plain clothes intercepted the family as they exited the courtroom.
According to the Immigrant Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, the children were visibly distressed during the arrest. The 6-year-old, who has leukemia, reportedly urinated on himself in fear after seeing an ICE agent lift his shirt to reveal a firearm. No change of clothing was provided for hours, further exacerbating the child’s physical discomfort and emotional trauma.
This incident is now the subject of what experts believe to be the first lawsuit involving children challenging courthouse arrests under ICE’s revised internal enforcement directive, as reported by The Christian Science Monitor.
Detention and Medical Delay Raises Humanitarian Concerns
Following their arrest, the family was transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, where they have remained in detention for several weeks. The child’s worsening symptoms—including bruising, bone pain, and loss of appetite—have gone untreated, according to the complaint filed jointly by Columbia Law School and the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Kate Gibson Kumar, a staff attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project, condemned the arrest, stating it reflects “a heinous display of disregard for humanity.” The family had lived in Los Angeles for seven months, with the children enrolled in public school and engaged in community life. The 6-year-old loved playing soccer, while his sister enjoyed painting. Both attended church weekly and had shown no indicators of being a flight risk.
Legal Arguments: Fourth and Fifth Amendment Violations
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unlawful seizures and the Fifth Amendment’s due process clause. Attorneys stress that the family had already been vetted by federal officials when granted parole, and their voluntary appearance at immigration court underscored their intent to comply with the law.
Elora Mukherjee, director of Columbia’s Immigrant Rights Clinic, emphasized that the arrest occurred “without any advance notice, without any opportunity to explain their circumstances,” thereby breaching constitutional safeguards. She further noted that ICE’s conduct undermines trust in the legal process and exposes children to unnecessary trauma.
Expedited Removal and Risk of Deportation Before Hearing
The family is now subject to expedited removal proceedings—a mechanism that permits deportation without judicial review. This process heightens the risk that they could be deported before the courts can evaluate the legality of their detention. Attorneys are seeking an emergency injunction to prevent this outcome.
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to repeated media inquiries. However, a prior federal court ruling declared aspects of ICE’s courthouse arrest directive unconstitutional, casting doubt on the legality of such enforcement practices, as noted in reporting by The Washington Post.
A Broader Pattern of Civil Liberties Concerns
The Trump administration has set an ambitious enforcement target of 3,000 immigration arrests per day, or 1 million per year. Despite claims of focusing on violent offenders, data from the Cato Institute show that over 93% of immigrants arrested by ICE this fiscal year had no violent criminal convictions.
Immigration attorneys and civil rights advocates argue that these aggressive enforcement measures disproportionately impact individuals who pose no threat to public safety. The high-profile arrest of a sick child has reignited national debates over the ethics and legality of such tactics. Public protests have since broken out in Los Angeles, San Antonio, and other cities across the U.S., demanding accountability and reform.