Federal immigration agents detained Wisconsin Dells resident Diana Socha Torres and her 8-year-old son early Tuesday, pulling them from their home and transporting them to an ICE office in downtown Milwaukee. Family members and neighbors say the move came without warning, and by mid-morning supporters had gathered outside the Milwaukee office demanding the pair be released. Advocates say Torres has an active asylum case and that agents took the child along as part of the operation.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ICE agents arrived at the Wisconsin Dells home at about 7 a.m. and brought Torres and her son to the Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) offices in downtown Milwaukee. The outlet reported that ICE's online custody locator listed Torres as in federal custody, and that her partner told supporters the agency planned to transfer the family to a family detention center in Texas.
Supporters Gather Outside ICE Office
Within hours, relatives, organizers and local community groups were outside the downtown ERO building, rallying for the release of the mother and child and lining up legal assistance. Christine Neumann-Ortiz of Voces de la Frontera criticized the decision to detain Torres and her son, calling it an unnecessary use of public resources that would inflict lasting trauma on the family, organizers said.
Legal Status And Next Steps
Advocates told reporters that Torres arrived in the United States about two-and-a-half years ago and has an active asylum application. They said she was wearing an ankle monitor when agents took her into custody. Online immigration records reviewed by journalists show that a deportation order was entered on April 27, 2026, and her attorney filed an appeal in May. Court records indicate she has no criminal convictions in Wisconsin, as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
What Comes Next
Torres' attorney is expected to continue pressing the pending appeal while advocates push for humane treatment and swift access to legal counsel for the family. ICE did not immediately confirm details about any transfer to a detention facility, and community groups are urging supporters to track the agency's online custody listings and contribute to legal defense funds set up to assist Torres and her son.
