Mother chooses self-deportation after son dies in ICE custody
Jan 10, 2026·Location: Salisbury, MD
Country of origin: Mexico

Arlit Martinez-Carrada's 15-year-old son, Kevin Mendoza Martinez, died of cancer two days after she was arrested by ICE agents outside her workplace in Maryland. Martinez was denied release to be with her son during his final days and learned of his death while in ICE custody at the Baltimore federal building. She was later released on $12,000 bond and attended her son's funeral. Martinez has now decided to self-deport, with her attorneys working on the voluntary departure process.
Timeline
Sources
- CBS News
- Tras detención de la madre y la muerte de un joven de 15 años familia hispana busca regresar a su País
Univision·Feb 11, 2026·archived copy
- Teen dies of cancer days after mother arrested by ICE: ‘She’s never gonna see him’
WSAZ·Jan 12, 2026·archived copy
- Mom arrested by ICE days before teenage son dies of cancer
independent.co.uk·Jan 12, 2026·archived copy
- Woman wants to self-deport after son died while she was in ICE custody
wbaltv.com·Feb 13, 2026·archived copy
- grokipedia.com
- CourtListener
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