The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is facing intense online backlash after a six-year-old deaf boy and his family were deported to Colombia following a routine immigration check-in in San Francisco.
According to immigration advocates, the child, who uses a cochlear implant and communicates primarily through American Sign Language (ASL), was detained along with his five-year-old brother and their mother, Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez, during their scheduled visit to an ICE office under a supervision programme that requires regular reporting.
The family was later deported to Colombia, triggering criticism from California officials, educators and social media users who said the child was removed without the assistive devices he needs to communicate.
Child reportedly separated from assistive equipment
Advocacy group Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP) said a relative waiting outside the building attempted to pass along the hearing-related devices the child relies on. However, immigration authorities detained the family before the equipment could be handed over.
Immigration attorney Nikolas De Bremaeker, managing attorney at ACILEP, said the case raised serious humanitarian concerns.
“They had strong humanitarian reasons why they should not be deported,” he said. “Regardless of the status around deportation, humanity should stop them from sending a six-year-old into a life-threatening situation.”
Confusion over detention locations
According to the family’s legal team, authorities initially indicated the family might be transferred to detention centres in Louisiana or Phoenix, Arizona. The family was briefly held in Phoenix before ultimately being deported to Colombia.
Lawyers argued that the shifting information made it difficult to file legal petitions to challenge the deportation in time.
De Bremaeker said the confusion prevented attorneys from taking steps that could have potentially delayed or halted the removal.
California officials call for boy’s return
California’s superintendent of public instruction, Tony Thurmond, urged federal authorities to allow the child to return so he can continue receiving specialised education.
“No child should be ripped from their home community and hidden in a detention center, especially not a Deaf child who is being deprived of the ability to communicate and understand what is happening to him,” Thurmond said in a statement.
Teachers and school administrators said the boy had only recently begun developing communication skills through ASL and specialised classroom support, warning that losing access to such resources could hinder his development.
Netizens react
The incident triggered strong reactions online, with many users criticising the authorities.
One user wrote, “Where did all these evil people come from?”
Another person who identified as deaf said they could not imagine how terrifying the situation must have been for the child, adding that he posed no threat to anyone.
“This is heartless,” another user wrote. “Anyone who continues to support this president and his administration is evil. Convince me otherwise.”
The deportation has renewed debate around immigration enforcement policies and the treatment of vulnerable migrant families, particularly children with disabilities.
