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Colombian family detained by ICE at Atlanta airport before Florida birthday trip

Aug 27, 2026·Location: Atlanta, GA

Country of origin: Colombia

Colombian family detained by ICE at Atlanta airport before Florida birthday trip
Photo via Instagram

Sofía Pineda Cardona, 20, and her parents, Nora Elena Cardona Bravo and Leonardo Pineda Hernández, were detained by ICE agents at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on August 13 while preparing to board a flight to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for a birthday celebration. The family, originally from Armenia, Colombia, had chosen to fly instead of drive for the trip. Sofía's boyfriend, Nicholas Kim, a U.S. citizen she had been dating for about eight months, was traveling with them but was not detained. The family had legally entered the U.S. on tourist visas and later filed an affirmative asylum application with USCIS; their attorney, Julio Moreno, said they had work permits and no criminal record. DHS confirmed the three had overstayed their authorized period and said their cases would go before an immigration judge. They are being held at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia, and their attorney has requested bond so they can continue their case outside detention.

Timeline

Aug 27, 2026—Case reported publicly, with family in deportation proceedings and attorney requesting bond
Aug 13, 2026—Sofía Pineda and her parents detained by ICE agents at Atlanta airport before a flight to Fort Lauderdale
Aug 13, 2026—DHS confirmed the family overstayed their authorized period; family placed at Stewart Detention Center awaiting immigration court proceedings
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