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Leya: Cuban mother detained by ICE, separated from her nursing daughter in Michigan

Leya, a recent Cuban immigrant, was arrested instead of her abusive boyfriend after police responded to a dispute in Wyoming, Michigan. She was later detained and separated from her nursing daughter, who stopped calling her "Mamá."

Oct 14, 2026Wyoming, MICountry of origin: Cuba

Leya: Cuban mother detained by ICE, separated from her nursing daughter in Michigan
Photo via ProPublica

Leya, a recent immigrant from Cuba with a pending immigration case, said her boyfriend repeatedly abused her, including punching her in the face and isolating her from friends and family. In April, after police responded to an argument at their apartment complex in Wyoming, Michigan, officers arrested Leya rather than her boyfriend on suspicion of domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call. She was later detained at North Lake Processing Center and separated from her nursing daughter, who she said stopped calling her 'Mamá' during video visits.

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