A Honduran mother identified as Vilma Cruz was arrested by immigration agents in Kenner, Louisiana, after a brief encounter while driving. According to her family, the arrest occurred within minutes. The case has generated concern because Cruz had been living in the United States for almost twenty years and had avoided leaving home for weeks due to the increase in immigration operations. Her family states that she had no criminal record and that they do not know why she was stopped. A moment that can change a life. According to CBS News, her 18-year-old son, Jonathan Escalante, recounted that he received a call in which his mother told him that agents had positioned themselves behind her car. He managed to hear her declare in Spanish that she hadn't done anything wrong before the call was cut off. He had no further contact with her after that. According to another family member interviewed by CBS News, they were also on the phone with Cruz when they heard agents yelling at her to open the door and then the sound of a window breaking. After that, the phone went silent. The family says they had even discussed the night before whether it was safe for Cruz to go to work.

Reason for Detention According to ICE

The arrest occurred as part of Operation Catahoula Crunch, a Department of Homeland Security deployment aimed, according to officials cited by CBS News, at capturing “illegal aliens with criminal histories” in the New Orleans area. However, Cruz's son stated that he is unaware of any criminal record of his mother and does not understand why she would have been targeted by the operation, in addition to not being entirely certain about her immigration status.

According to CBS News, ICE did not respond to any requests for information regarding Cruz's situation or clarify the specific reasons for her arrest. The lack of official communication has left the family uncertain about her current legal status and the steps the authorities will take.

The Life of Vilma Cruz and the Impact on Her Family

Cruz, originally from Honduras, had been in the United States for about two decades and worked as a domestic and maintenance worker to support her children. She had stopped going to work for almost three weeks due to the increase in raids in the area, which caused concern in her family about the risks of traveling.

Her son Jonathan, a U.S. citizen like his 9-year-old sister, explained that he now has to take full responsibility for the child's care. He noted that he even carries his passport for fear of being detained, as he fears that agents might question him without cause. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), quoted by CBS News, reported that it is considering legal action to stop these operations and that it would start a fundraiser to support the family.

The group also indicated that Cruz might be in a detention center in Mississippi. According to CBS News, the lack of response from ICE makes it difficult to predict the next steps in his case and to know his exact whereabouts.

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