Judge Orders Bond Hearing for Chicago Man Detained Amid Daughter’s Cancer Battle
BREAKING: A federal judge has ruled that the immigration detention of Ruben Torres Maldonado, a Chicago father whose 16-year-old daughter is fighting advanced cancer, is illegal. The ruling mandates that Torres be granted a bond hearing by October 31, 2023.
This urgent decision comes just days after Torres, age 40, was detained on October 18 at a Home Depot in suburban Chicago. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Daniel emphasized that Torres’ detention violates his due process rights, although he stopped short of ordering an immediate release. “While sympathetic to the plight the petitioner’s daughter faces due to her health concerns, the court must act within the constraints of the relevant statutes, rules, and precedents,” Judge Daniel noted in his ruling.
Torres’ attorney, Kalman Resnick, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We’re pleased that the judge ruled in our favor in determining that ICE is illegally detaining Ruben. We will now turn the fight to immigration court so we can secure Ruben’s release on bond while he applies for permanent residence status.”
Torres has been detained while his daughter, Ofelia Torres, battles metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. Since her diagnosis in December, Ofelia has been undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment. As her father remains in custody, the family faces a dual crisis—one of health and one of immigration policy.
Ofelia, who attended the recent hearing in a wheelchair, voiced her distress in a video on a GoFundMe page set up for her family. “I find it so unfair that hardworking immigrant families are being targeted just because they were not born here,” she said. Her emotional plea underscores the human impact of immigration enforcement on families.
The Department of Homeland Security claims that Torres has been living in the U.S. illegally for years and cites a history of driving offenses.
“This is nothing more than a desperate Hail Mary attempt to keep a criminal illegal alien in our country,”
stated Assistant Homeland Security Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in response to the ruling. She emphasized that the Trump administration is committed to upholding the rule of law.
Torres entered the U.S. in 2003 and is the father of two children, both U.S. citizens. His partner, Sandibell Hidalgo, is also affected by the situation, as they navigate the complexities of the immigration system while managing their daughter’s critical health condition.
Several elected officials have rallied in support of Torres, holding a news conference to protest his arrest. This incident occurs amidst a broader crackdown on immigration in the Chicago area, known as Operation Midway Blitz, which began in early September.
The immediate future for the Torres family remains uncertain. As they await the bond hearing, the emotional toll on Ofelia, who has faced severe health challenges, continues to rise. Her recent hospital discharge just before her father’s detention illustrates the family’s fragile situation.
As developments unfold, all eyes are on the upcoming bond hearing, which could significantly impact the family’s future. The community’s support and the legal battle ahead are crucial for Ruben Torres, who aims to be by his daughter’s side during her treatment.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story, as it highlights the urgent intersection of immigration policy and family health crises.
