ICE detained and deported an 18-year-old asylum seeker and her children after she missed a court hearing, sparking outcry over rights and enforcement.

In February 2026, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained and deported Sonia Espinoza Arriaga, an 18-year-old asylum seeker from Soldotna, Alaska, and her three children after she missed an immigration court hearing. The family, who fled violence in Mexico, was arrested during a targeted vehicle stop and processed together, with the eldest child held as an adult in Washington state. The incident prompted a legislative hearing in Juneau, where lawmakers and advocates criticized the operation as unlawful and emotionally devastating, citing concerns over constitutional rights and immigration enforcement practices in Alaska. ICE defended the action, stating no family separations occurred and parents were given care options. A federal habeas corpus petition and immigration appeal are pending.