Over 50 Canadians are held in U.S. ICE custody. Families face legal bills, little info, and growing fears for the safety and rights of their loved ones.
Surging Detentions Raise Alarms Across the Border
Dozens of Canadian citizens are currently being held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention centres, prompting outrage from families and renewed scrutiny of U.S. immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. Global Affairs Canada acknowledges roughly 55 Canadians are in ICE custody, though the number fluctuates regularly.
Routine Appointments Turn Into Arrests
Cynthia Olivera, originally from Mississauga and now residing in Los Angeles, was detained during what was supposed to be a routine citizenship interview. Meanwhile, Paula Callejas, a Montreal-based business owner, was arrested in Florida after being charged with a minor offense, despite being in the final stages of securing a valid U.S. work visa.
Their families, speaking through legal representatives, say the detention was abrupt, confusing, and devoid of transparency. “What started as a step forward in their immigration process turned into a nightmare,” one family member said.
Enforcement Accelerates Under Trump
The rise in detentions comes as ICE aggressively ramps up enforcement under directives from President Trump. Executive orders issued earlier this year have pushed ICE to carry out over 3,000 arrests per day—five times the daily average from his previous term. Officials claim the focus is on serious criminals, but human rights advocates argue that long-time residents and minor offenders are increasingly caught in the dragnet.
Detained Without Clear Timelines
Once in custody, detainees like Olivera and Callejas are often transferred between multiple ICE centres, sometimes across states. Callejas has reportedly been moved repeatedly, and even her legal team has had difficulty confirming her current location. Families report that calls are restricted, legal processes are delayed, and detainees lack access to adequate food, hygiene, and healthcare.
Legal Limbo and Mounting Costs
ICE confirmed the detention of both women but has released minimal information, citing privacy restrictions. Meanwhile, families are burdened with the dual cost of criminal and immigration legal counsel. One relative said, “We are doing everything we can—phone calls, legal filings, paying for representation—but we still don’t know when, or how, she’ll get out.”
Calls for Ottawa to Act
While Canadian officials can offer consular assistance, they cannot intervene directly in U.S. legal proceedings. Lawyers are now urging the federal government to step up advocacy efforts, especially for detainees who have agreed to return to Canada voluntarily but face unexplained delays. In one case, a spouse said he offered to cover deportation travel costs personally—yet ICE has not responded.
A Worsening Humanitarian Situation
Conditions inside the detention facilities have also been criticized. Families describe overcrowded rooms, inconsistent meals, and limited access to medical care. One family member noted that Olivera, detained in Texas, “is treated more like a criminal than someone simply trying to finalize paperwork.”
Some Canadians Return, Others Wait
A small number of Canadians, like Jasmine Mooney of British Columbia, have secured release and returned home. But others remain trapped. One detainee, Johnny Noviello, died in custody last week, raising urgent questions about oversight and health standards in the detention system.
Dreams Deferred, Families Disillusioned
For those still inside, the consequences go beyond legal status. Callejas’s family say she has abandoned her plan to expand her Canadian swimwear business in the U.S. “It was her dream to live and work in Florida. Now, she just wants to come home and never look back,” her relative said.
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