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Father and Daughter, Then Another Family, Detained by CBP After Billings School Supplies Event

Jan 2, 2025·Location: Billings, MT

Father and Daughter, Then Another Family, Detained by CBP After Billings School Supplies Event
Photo via kulr8.com

A 36-year-old father, Adrián Espinoza De La Cruz, and his 9-year-old daughter were detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection on Aug. 11 after leaving a United Way of Yellowstone County backpack giveaway in Billings, Montana, and were driven 250 miles to a detention facility in Havre. CBP said agents pulled over a driver at 10:15 a.m. near Overland Avenue; a federal judge later ordered the pair released, finding agents lacked probable cause or a warrant. United Way CEO Andrew Konkel said agents appeared to be staying at a nearby hotel and may have targeted families leaving the event, raising concerns about whether the event was being monitored for enforcement purposes. A second family was detained the next day after attending the same event and was later found to have legal status and released. Following the detentions, United Way warned more than 100 area nonprofits and began developing training on responding to immigration enforcement near community events.

Timeline

Jan 2, 2025—Second family detained by ICE after attending same event
Jan 2, 2025—Second family released after legal status confirmed
Jan 2, 2025—United Way warned over 100 nonprofits and began developing enforcement-response training
Jan 1, 2025—Father and 9-year-old daughter detained by ICE after leaving school supplies event, taken to Havre facility
Jan 1, 2025—Federal judge ordered release of father and daughter, citing lack of warrant
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