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Father, 9-year-old daughter detained after ICE lures girl from home, later freed

Aug 28, 2026·Location: San Antonio, TX

Country of origin: Venezuela

Father, 9-year-old daughter detained after ICE lures girl from home, later freed
Photo via sacurrent.com

Jesús Bracho, a San Antonio father, and his 9-year-old daughter Katherine, a student at Bonnie Ellison Elementary School, were detained near Loop 410 and U.S. Highway 90 in San Antonio. Bracho said ICE agents arrested him during a traffic stop, then released him and forced him to lure Katherine out of their home so agents could detain her as well. The two were held together for more than a month at the South Texas Immigrant Processing Center in Dilley. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro visited the family and said Bracho was moved to tears with guilt, believing he was responsible for his daughter's detention. Their case drew concern from family members, activists, and Katherine's classmates before the two were released together from Dilley.

Timeline

Aug 28, 2026—Bracho and Katherine released from the South Texas Immigrant Processing Center in Dilley after more than a month in custody
Jul 1, 2026—Jesús Bracho and his 9-year-old daughter Katherine detained near Loop 410 and U.S. Highway 90 in San Antonio; Bracho says he was released and used to lure his daughter into ICE custody
Jul 1, 2026—U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro visits the family at the Dilley detention center
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