Marina L.: Asylum-seeking Chicago-area mother held seven months by ICE without evidence
Marina Lopez, an asylum seeker from Guatemala, was detained at a routine check-in and held seven months in Kentucky before a judge found no record justifying it; her church supported her family throughout.
Jun 4, 2025Chicago, ILCountry of origin: Guatemala
Marina Lopez, a woman seeking asylum from Guatemala, was detained by ICE on June 4, 2025, during a routine check-in appointment and spent seven months in a Kentucky detention center. The federal government provided no evidence or explanation for her detention, and she was released on December 23, 2025, after a judge found the government had no record justifying her continued imprisonment. During her detention, her church community provided extensive support to her family, organizing fundraising, childcare, and daily assistance.
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Sources
- Suburban father returns home after being held in ICE custody for weeks
- CBS News
- ICE releases Chicago-area mother after seven months. It failed to provide evidence justifying her detention.
Chicago Tribune·Jan 25, 2026·archived copy
- Woman returns home to Lake County after 7 months in ICE custody following unexplained arrest
NBC Chicago·Jan 14, 2026·archived copy
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