DACA recipient detained at Boston airport, later sues ICE over custody conditions
Sep 9, 2026·Location: Boston, MA
Country of origin: Colombia
Maria Rosales, a 32-year-old DACA recipient who came to the U.S. from Colombia as a young child and has lived in Florida for nearly three decades, was detained without warrant by ICE agents at Logan Airport on July 10, 2026, while returning home after a trip to Boston. She works as a dermatologist's assistant treating skin cancer patients and founded a nonprofit color guard organization that provides performing arts opportunities to young people in the Orlando area, with friends and colleagues describing her as a dedicated community leader. ICE cited a 2017 removal order from a New Mexico immigration checkpoint stop that Rosales says she was never properly informed of, and her attorney contends the warrant used to justify her detention may have been fabricated after she was already in custody. She was held for 10 days at ICE's Burlington, Massachusetts facility, where she reported inconsistent access to showers, food, water, and medication, and rooms holding as many as eight women at a time. A federal judge ordered her release after finding ICE failed to comply with statutory detention procedures, and she subsequently filed a lawsuit against the agency, which a judge refused to dismiss in September.
Timeline
Sources
- She came to Boston for a Noah Kahan concert. Now she’s in ICE custody.
Boston Globe·Jul 16, 2026·archived copy
- Woman taken into ICE custody at Logan Airport after attending Noah Kahan concert
WCVB·Jul 17, 2026·archived copy
- 2 arrested at Logan Airport as ICE activity ramps up
boston.com·Jul 18, 2026·archived copy
- Attorney says woman arrested by ICE at Logan Airport after Noah Kahan concert
nbcboston.com·Jul 17, 2026·archived copy
- 2 arrested by ICE at Logan Airport after visiting Boston for major events
nbcboston.com·Jul 17, 2026·archived copy
- WCVB
- Woman arrested at Logan after Noah Kahan concert ordered released from Burlington ICE facility
- Woman taken into ICE custody after attending Noah Kahan concert in Boston released
WCVB·Jul 21, 2026·archived copy
- Judge orders release of Florida woman detained by ICE at Logan Airport after attending Fenway concert
Boston Globe·Jul 21, 2026·archived copy
- Judge orders release of woman arrested by ICE at Logan Airport
nbcboston.com·Jul 21, 2026·archived copy
- Judge refuses to toss lawsuit from woman detained by ICE after flying to Boston for Tall Ships event
boston.com·Sep 9, 2026
More incidents in Massachusetts
- Babson College student deported to Honduras despite judge's order, now fights for returnOct 5, 2026 · Boston, MA
- ICE raids chill immigrant businesses and community in New BedfordOct 3, 2026 · New Bedford, MA
- North African man pressured to self-deport amid Uganda deportation threatOct 2, 2026 · Plymouth, MA
- Waltham asylum seeker deported to Uganda despite pending appeal windowSep 30, 2026 · Waltham, MA
- Angolan asylum seeker tackled, tased at neck during New Bedford ICE arrestSep 30, 2026 · New Bedford, MA
- Three Honduran brothers detained by ICE in New Bedford grocery store parking lotSep 28, 2026 · New Bedford, MA