UPDATE: In a shocking revelation, Ruben Torres Maldonado shared his harrowing experience at the Broadview ICE facility, describing the conditions as “inhumane.” Speaking exclusively with ABC7 Chicago, Torres detailed his struggles just days after being released from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody.
Torres, whose 16-year-old daughter Ofelia is battling stage 4 cancer, was detained on October 18, 2023, outside a Home Depot in Niles, Illinois. His emotional account highlights the urgent need for reform in ICE facilities as he expressed feelings of helplessness while his family faced a critical health crisis.
“I’m so happy… thanks to the people who support my family in this situation,” Torres said, reflecting on his recent return home to Chicago just a week ago. His gratitude is palpable, but the scars of his experience run deep.
Despite a federal judge ruling that his detention was unlawful and ordering immediate changes to the facility, Torres is now under the restriction of an ankle monitor. This development comes despite the court’s acknowledgment that he poses no threat to the community.
“It’s inhumane because the conditions are bad. There’s a lot of people in a room and there were only two bathrooms,” Torres recounted in Spanish, describing the dire state of the facility.
The judge’s ruling also mandated improvements in hygiene and sleeping arrangements for detainees, highlighting the dire conditions that Torres and others faced. “We are not criminals to receive this type of treatment,” he stated, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change.
During his testimony this week, Torres relived his traumatic experience in front of his daughter, who was hearing about her father’s ordeal for the first time. “I saw his face, his facial expressions. He was reliving everything. It’s horrible. No one deserves to be there,” Ofelia said, highlighting the emotional toll on their family.
As Torres navigates the aftermath of his detention, he worries about the future. Having worked in the paint and construction industry since arriving in the U.S. in 2003, he now faces significant limitations in supporting his family. “All I could think of was my daughter, my wife, and my family,” he expressed, fearing the impact of potential deportation.
His daughter Ofelia continues her fight against cancer, with more treatments scheduled in the coming days. “We spend time together just being lazy honestly just watching movies, eating together,” she shared, expressing her relief at having her father back by her side.
Torres’s legal team is currently working on applying for cancellation of removal, a process made possible by the federal judge’s ruling that his family would suffer undue hardship if he were deported.
This urgent situation sheds light on the broader issues surrounding immigration detention facilities and the need for humane treatment of individuals, especially those facing life-threatening circumstances. As Torres and his family work to heal, their story underscores the critical changes needed within the system.
Stay tuned for more updates as this developing story unfolds.
