U.S. citizen children left alone on roadside after ICE arrests father
A father was arrested by ICE while driving his teenage son and daughter, both U.S. citizens, to school in New Jersey; agents left the children unattended on the roadside before anyone arrived to take them.
Mar 15, 2026Franklin Township, NJCountry of origin: Mexico

ICE agents arrested an undocumented father while he was taking his 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, both U.S. citizens, to school in New Jersey. According to witnesses and the family, agents asked the boy to call a relative but drove away before anyone arrived, leaving the two minors unattended on the roadside. The incident violates ICE policy and DHS directives requiring agents to remain on scene until a third party assumes physical custody of minor children.
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Sources
- Top ICE official accuses father of detained 5-year-old of 'abandoning his child'
- Father of 5-year-old detained in Minnesota disputes government assertion he abandoned the boy
Associated Press·Feb 2, 2026·archived copy
- ICE agents accused of leaving New Jersey children unattended after arresting father
- KGW
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