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Father detained by ICE in Maine, two children found home alone

A father was detained during a Maine traffic stop after his car, carrying his 1-year-old, struck an ICE vehicle; he collapsed yelling "My baby!" His other children, 2 and 9, were found home alone.

Oct 15, 2026Sanford, ME

Father detained by ICE in Maine, two children found home alone
Photo via WMTW

A man was detained by ICE agents during a traffic stop on Brook Street in Sanford, Maine, after his vehicle, which had his 1-year-old child inside, struck an ICE vehicle while he was backing up. Witnesses said the man yelled "My baby!" and became so distraught he passed out. The toddler was taken to Southern Maine Health Care for a medical evaluation after ICE said the child was not properly secured in a car seat, and two of the man's other children, ages 2 and 9, were found alone at a nearby home and were placed in the care of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services.

“I noticed a Black male being arrested, yelling, being preceded to put in the car, continuing to — what seemed like — put up a little bit of a fight, continuing to yell,”
— Sarah Vachon, a witness
“It all seemed really calm, cool and collected from all the professionals, and the only person I saw yelling was the man being arrested,”
— Sarah Vachon, a witness
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