DACA activist detained at airport, released after judge rules arrest unconstitutional
Oct 1, 2025·Location: El Paso, TX
Country of origin: Mexico

Catalina 'Xóchitl' Santiago, a 28-year-old DACA recipient and community organizer from El Paso, was detained by Border Patrol agents on August 3, 2025, at El Paso International Airport while traveling for work with her wife, Desiree Miller, a U.S. citizen whom Santiago married earlier in 2025. Despite holding valid DACA status since 2012—renewed seven times with her current renewal expiring in April 2026—Santiago was subjected to deportation proceedings. Originally from Mexico, Santiago has lived in the U.S. since age 8. On October 1, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone ruled that Santiago's arrest and detention violated her Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights and ordered her release from the ICE El Paso Service Processing Center. Judge Cardone found that the government presented no evidence that Santiago endangered anyone during her twenty years at liberty, including her thirteen years under DACA, and failed to articulate any individualized reason for her detention. Santiago's brother Jose said the family was deeply affected by her detention and expressed relief at her release.
Timeline
Sources
- Immigrant activist's detention highlights DACA recipients' growing deportation risks
NBC News·Aug 29, 2025·archived copy
- DACA recipient detained by ICE at airport before boarding domestic flight
Newsweek·Aug 6, 2025·archived copy
- Yuma DACA recipient detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection
KAWC·Aug 13, 2025·archived copy
- El Paso Times
- sourcenm.com
- El Paso DACA recipient Catalina 'Xóchitl' Santiago freed by ICE Wednesday on federal judge's order
elpasomatters.org·Oct 1, 2025·archived copy
- nmpoliticalreport.com
- ICE complies with judge’s order and quickly releases El Paso DACA recipient
Texas Tribune·Oct 1, 2025·archived copy
- tennessean.com
- ‘A huge victory’: ICE can’t ignore DACA protections, legal advocates say after El Paso area federal court rulings
elpasomatters.org·Oct 2, 2025·archived copy
- Report: El Paso DACA recipient Catalina Santiago has been released from ICE custody
kfoxtv.com·Oct 1, 2025·archived copy
cbs4local.com·Oct 1, 2025·archived copy
- Border Report
- heraldtimesonline.com
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