Teen's Final Plea Saves Father from Deportation Days Before Her Death
Teen's Final Plea Saves Father from Deportation Days Before Her Death
Teen's Final Plea Saves Father from Deportation Days Before Her Death
A 16-year-old Chicago girl, Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, passed away on Friday after battling stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Just days earlier, an immigration judge had ruled that her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, could avoid deportation due to the hardship it would cause his US citizen children.
The family's struggle gained attention after Ofelia appeared in a video pleading for her father's release from detention, calling the situation unfair for hardworking immigrant families.
Ofelia was diagnosed with the aggressive cancer in December 2024. She had been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment while her father remained in custody. Despite her illness, she attended his immigration hearing via Zoom last week.
Ruben Torres Maldonado, a painter and home renovator, was detained on October 18 during Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration enforcement crackdown in the USA. Authorities claimed he had lived in the country illegally since 2003 and had prior driving offences. However, a judge later ruled his detention unlawful and ordered his release on a $2,000 bond.
Three days before Ofelia's death, the same judge granted Ruben conditional approval for cancellation of removal. The decision cited the extreme hardship his deportation would inflict on his three US citizen children—including Ofelia and her younger brother. This ruling opens a path for him to obtain lawful permanent residency and, eventually, citizenship in the USA.
A GoFundMe page set up for the family featured Ofelia's emotional plea, where she spoke about the injustice faced by immigrant families trying to build a life in the USA. Her father's partner, Sandibell Hidalgo, has been caring for their younger son during the ordeal.
The judge's ruling allows Ruben Torres Maldonado to remain in the USA for now. His case will proceed under the cancellation of removal process, which could lead to permanent residency. Meanwhile, the family mourns Ofelia's loss while navigating the legal steps ahead.