What began as an arrest outside a family home has since become a symbol of the harshness and inhumanity of current immigration enforcement. Yolanda Magall\u00f3n P\u00e9rez, a 50-year-old mother, was taken into custody by ICE agents. Officers had originally arrived to arrest her son, Jonathan Tejeda-P\u00e9rez, who had prior minor offenses. But when Yolanda asked the agents why they were detaining him, she herself became a target. Because she did not have valid immigration status, she too was taken into custody \u2014 despite having no criminal record whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The consequences are particularly devastating for Xitlali Tejeda, Yolanda\u2019s 21-year-old daughter. Xitlali suffers from osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer that has left her wheelchair-bound. She relies on constant care. Until her mother\u2019s arrest, Yolanda was her primary caregiver \u2013 helping her bathe, dress, and manage daily needs. With both her mother and brother detained, Xitlali was left alone, overwhelmed and desperate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n