A Doral family says their father vanished into federal custody this week after immigration agents picked him up in the city, and they still cannot get a straight answer about where he is or what happens next. The relatives say they have been calling and searching ever since, with no clear information from officials, all while national concern grows over recent enforcement operations that have already turned deadly in several cases.
Family Says Father Was Taken, Then Silence
According to CBS Miami, the man was taken into custody in Doral, and his family has since struggled to confirm which federal facility is holding him. Video from the station shows relatives pleading with officials to reveal his location so he can contact an attorney and speak with loved ones.
In the same brief TV segment, the station also referenced a separate, fatal enforcement encounter in St. Augustine that has only added to local anxiety about how these operations are unfolding.
Deadly Encounters Put ICE Operations Under the Microscope
The Doral family’s account is unfolding as Immigration and Customs Enforcement faces intense national scrutiny over a string of fatal incidents tied to recent enforcement actions.
The Associated Press reported that a man in the St. Augustine area was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer on July 14 after he fled an encounter with immigration and Homeland Security agents. That case is now under both state and federal investigation.
Separately, ABC News has reported that the Department of Homeland Security ordered ICE to temporarily pause most vehicle stops following recent fatal shootings linked to enforcement actions in Houston and Biddeford, Maine.
What Families Can Do If a Loved One Is Detained
For families who suspect someone has been taken into ICE custody, officials direct people to the agency’s Online Detainee Locator System and to USA.gov’s guidance for families, which walk through how to search by immigration "A-number" and how to contact local field offices.
Immigrant-rights groups say they can help connect relatives with pro bono immigration attorneys and assist with filing records requests. Advocates note that having the detainee’s A-number, date of birth and last known location ready can make searches faster and help legal teams intervene more effectively.
The relatives who spoke with CBS Miami say they plan to keep pressing officials for answers about the detention, where their loved one is being held and whether he faces any formal charges. Hoodline will update this story if officials release additional information.
