In a powerful demonstration of community advocacy, an 11-year-old girl and her mother from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, were released from federal immigration detention in Texas, nearly a month after their controversial apprehension. Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano and her mother, Rosa Elena Caisaguano Cajilema, regained their freedom on February 3, 2026, following intense pressure from school officials, state leaders including Governor Tim Walz, and legal representatives. Their release, prompted by a federal court petition, spotlights the severe human toll of immigration enforcement and the critical role local communities play in fighting for justice.
A School Day Turned Nightmare: The Detention of Elizabeth and Her Mother
The ordeal began abruptly in early January 2026. Elizabeth and her mother were en route to Highland Elementary School in Columbia Heights when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents intercepted them. This detention marked a disturbing pattern, as Elizabeth was the first child from the district taken into custody during what community members described as an escalated “Twin Cities immigration crackdown.”
Elizabeth managed a distressed phone call to her father, Luis Zuna, indicating agents would bring her to school. Frantic, Mr. Zuna rushed to Highland Elementary, where social worker Tracy Xiong and other staff waited anxiously. However, Elizabeth never arrived. Instead, she and her mother were rapidly transported to the family detention center in Dilley, Texas, a practice lawyers suggest is designed to move detainees beyond the immediate reach of local legal counsel. Tracy Xiong vividly recalled Mr. Zuna’s inconsolable grief, an image that “will stay with me forever.” The unexpected separation left a devastating emotional scar on the family.
The Challenges of Detention: Illness and Uncertainty
Throughout their month-long detention at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, conditions were alarming. Both Elizabeth and her mother fell ill; Elizabeth suffered flu-like symptoms, while her mother developed hives. According to school principal secretary Carolina Gutierrez, they received no medical attention, testing, or medicine, despite a concerning measles outbreak at the facility. Bobby Painter, managing attorney for the Texas Immigration Law Center, described medical care in detention centers as “pretty subpar,” noting that illnesses spread quickly in confined spaces with varied vaccination statuses. Elizabeth even confided in her father, fearing she was being sent back to Ecuador and that her dreams of becoming a doctor were shattered.
Community Rises: Advocacy and Legal Action Drive Release
The Columbia Heights school district quickly became a nexus for advocacy. Social worker Tracy Xiong spent countless hours trying to locate Elizabeth and her mother. The district’s impassioned pleas gained significant traction, culminating in a press conference that included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Governor Walz, highlighting the broader impact, revealed that at least six students from Columbia Heights schools had been affected by ICE detentions. He underscored the “inhumane conditions” and trauma inflicted on children, demanding detailed information from the Homeland Security Secretary about all individuals detained in Minnesota. Walz explicitly called for urgent action due to severe health risks like measles, insisting these children “need to be accounted for today.”
Legal Intervention Secures Freedom
The decisive breakthrough came with a habeas corpus petition filed in federal court. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, who had previously ordered the release of another Columbia Heights child, Liam Conejo Ramos, from the same Dilley facility, mandated that Elizabeth and her mother could not be deported while their case was ongoing.
This legal victory was crucial, especially given the family’s active asylum case and U visa application (Elizabeth’s mother was a victim of a carjacking). Attorney Bobby Painter emphasized that the family had an immigration lawyer, no criminal history, and was merely “living their life going through the process as it was intended.” This directly challenged the narrative from a DHS spokesperson, who claimed Elizabeth’s mother had a “final order of removal” and failed to find a designated guardian, an account contradicted by Elizabeth’s successful call to her father, who was waiting at school.
The Broader Impact: Fear Grips a Community
Elizabeth and her mother’s case is not isolated. The Columbia Heights school district has been at the epicenter of a broader crackdown. The earlier detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, also held in Dilley, drew national attention. Later, two brothers, a second and fifth grader, were detained with their mother, followed by a 17-year-old high school student and another 17-year-old and her mother.
Superintendent Zena Stenvik recounted alarming ICE activities near schools, including vehicles driving onto school property, agents “roaming our neighborhoods, circling our schools, following our buses, coming into our parking lots and taking our children.” These actions profoundly “shook” the community’s sense of safety, leading to decreased school attendance and even moving recess indoors. Social worker Tracy Xiong noted a stark change: “Students used to be absent because they were sick. Now they’re absent because they fear deportation.”
Contesting Narratives: ICE vs. Community Accounts
The detentions sparked significant debate over ICE’s tactics. School officials, including school board chair Mary Granlund, accused ICE of using children as “bait” to apprehend parents, citing instances where agents allegedly refused opportunities to safely release children to guardians. Granlund vividly recalled hearing an adult inside Liam’s home pleading with agents not to take the child.
Conversely, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, denied these accusations, stating, “ICE did NOT target a child. The child was ABANDONED.” McLaughlin claimed officers offered Liam’s mother custody, which she refused, and that the father wished for Liam to stay with him. This stark contrast in narratives highlights the deep distrust and differing perspectives surrounding immigration enforcement practices. Regardless of the official stance, school staff who personally escorted children to federal buildings described the experience as “awful,” “heartbreaking,” and occurring in an intimidating environment “not a place for kids.”
Looking Ahead: Hope and Ongoing Challenges
Elizabeth and her mother’s release offers a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing challenges. While their return to Minnesota was anticipated, potential quarantine requirements due to the measles outbreak in Dilley could cause delays. Elizabeth’s father, Luis Zuna, plans a joyous surprise welcome with flowers, eager to see his daughter resume her normal school life and pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
However, the struggle continues for other Columbia Heights students still in detention. Advocacy groups and legal teams continue to fight ICE’s practice of rapidly transferring individuals out of state, a tactic that complicates legal representation and prolongs family separations. The experiences of families like the Caisaguanos underscore the urgent need for transparent, humane immigration policies that prioritize the well-being of children and keep families intact. The power of a united community, standing up for its most vulnerable members, proved instrumental in securing Elizabeth and her mother’s freedom, offering a blueprint for future advocacy efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What events led to Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano’s release from ICE detention?
Elizabeth and her mother were released on February 3, 2026, after nearly a month in ICE detention. Their release was primarily due to intense advocacy from the Columbia Heights school district, including social worker Tracy Xiong, school officials, and Minnesota state leaders like Governor Tim Walz. A critical factor was the filing of a habeas corpus petition in federal court, which led U.S. District Judge Fred Biery to mandate their release and prevent deportation while their asylum case was ongoing.
Where were Elizabeth and her mother detained, and what were the reported conditions?
Elizabeth and her mother were detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas. Conditions at the facility were reported to be concerning, with both Elizabeth and her mother falling ill with flu-like symptoms and hives, respectively, without receiving adequate medical care. There was also a known measles outbreak at the facility, which raised further health concerns and had the potential to delay releases and court proceedings due to quarantine requirements.
How has ICE enforcement impacted the Columbia Heights school community and other families?
ICE enforcement actions significantly impacted the Columbia Heights school community, leading to widespread fear and disruption. Multiple students from the district, including 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and two sets of siblings, were detained. This led to decreased school attendance, moved recesses indoors, and emotional distress for students who feared deportation and family separation. School officials reported ICE agents “roaming neighborhoods, circling schools,” and described the environment for detained children as intimidating and “not a place for kids.”
