A family from southwestern Africa, residing in Washington state while pursuing asylum, faced a harrowing detention of nearly a month in a windowless cell, sparking concerns about their treatment by immigration officials.
The family, which includes a mother in her third trimester of pregnancy and four children, expressed fear of deportation, prompting their attempt to cross from Blaine, Washington, into Canada. They spent 24 days in a single holding room from April 26 to May 20.
“It wasn’t really a detention,” the mother stated during a telephone conversation with OPB, interpreted for clarity, “It was more like a jail cell. And there were six of us.”
Due to concerns over potential retribution, OPB did not disclose the family’s identity or their country of origin.
“My fear is that I could get in trouble and get deported,” she shared, adding, “Also, I’m pregnant, so I don’t want to be the one telling what goes on there.”
Attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington informed that the family was fleeing political persecution in their homeland. They have begun investigating the family’s detention to explore possible civil rights claims.
Inside the cramped holding cell, which had only one toilet, the mother, who is diabetic, continued to breastfeed her youngest child — an 11-month-old U.S. citizen born in Washington, thanks to birthright citizenship laws.
According to ACLU attorneys, the family encountered limited communication with the outside world while in custody, exacerbating their distress. Reports indicated that their 13-year-old child became so troubled that they threatened self-harm.
The family, having no relatives in the U.S., was largely unnoticed until members of the community became aware of their situation and alerted organizations seeking assistance. The family’s immigration attorney was abroad and remained unaware of their detention until her return.
Immigrant rights advocates raised alarms about U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) allegedly failing to provide adequate support for the family in reaching out to their attorney or others outside the facility.
Angelina Godoy, affiliated with the University of Washington’s Center for Human Rights, described her unsuccessful attempts to contact CBP regarding the family’s well-being, highlighting the alarming lack of awareness regarding their prolonged detention.
“They had no ability to contest that they were being detained,” Godoy noted, expressing concern at the apparent lack of oversight during their time in custody — “essentially kidnapped” until government officials decided to release them.
A representative from CBP responded to inquiries by stating that the agency typically aims to process individuals within three days and insisted that detainees are treated humanely in line with national standards.
Despite their claims, the guidelines indicate that individuals should not be held beyond 72 hours; the family’s 24 days in custody seem to contradict these policies.
The political environment surrounding immigration has shifted significantly since the Trump administration began revising many Biden-era policies focused on protecting vulnerable detainees, leading to concerns over the conditions under which families like this one are held.
While the reasons for the family’s detention may be debated, the circumstances of their three-week confinement at the Blaine Border Patrol Station raise serious ethical questions.
Initially, the family arrived in the United States in 2024 seeking asylum after previously fleeing their home country due to political persecution following the killing of a family member. They had previously sought refuge in Brazil, where one of their children was born.
Though they established a life in Washington state, their journey took a troubling turn this spring. Asylum seekers must physically be present in the U.S. to apply and undergo an interview process.
Attorneys representing the family highlighted that immigration officials recognized a “credible fear” of returning to their country. Their detainment coincided with a period of instability exacerbating legal processes surrounding their case.
The family had previously settled in a church in Tukwila — often a haven for asylum seekers — prior to the birth of their youngest child. They transitioned into more stable housing until their detention shifted their status dramatically.
Reports from the family and ACLU attorneys indicate conflicting explanations surrounding the family’s legal status, with the immigration attorney unable to provide crucial information requested by a judge, leading to the family being ordered for removal.
The family’s attempt to flee to Canada was motivated by their fear of deportation. They believed crossing the border would fulfill government demands, but this decision led to their apprehension by immigration officials.
Described as small and cramped, the holding room where the family spent almost a month had minimal furnishings, with benches serving as sleeping arrangements.
“If their 13-year-old laid down, he could just about reach the walls with his feet and head going both directions,” noted David Montes, an ACLU attorney, illustrating the confinement issues they endured.
In the holding cell, the family shared just one toilet, presenting challenges for privacy. “There was no way to not be seen going to the bathroom other than to simply ask the other people to turn around,” the family member stated.
Throughout their detention, the mother and father were forced to sleep on mats on the floor alongside their young children, with insufficient bedding until the mother was able to bring sheets from a hospital visit related to her pregnancy.
The prolonged confinement took an evident toll on the children, particularly the 13-year-old, who expressed distress to guards, requests that were reportedly ignored.
“They’d be in the cell all day, never having the opportunity to get out or go outside; or have the kids play or anything like that,” Montes reported.
Despite conditions in the cell, a CBP spokesperson claimed the agency checked the holding area regularly to ensure cleanliness, temperature, and detainee welfare, asserting that they provided suitable sleeping arrangements per their policy.
According to immigration attorneys, the Blaine facility is not designed for long-term detention, raising questions about the legality and appropriateness of holding families under such conditions.
Elizabeth Benki, a directing attorney at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, remarked that it is standard procedure to release detainees, especially vulnerable ones, particularly concerning pregnant women and young children.
Reportedly, part of the agency’s reasoning for exceeding the established 72-hour limit includes citing unique circumstances surrounding some cases, although such claims frequently come under scrutiny.
The Flores settlement agreement — a legal framework guiding the treatment of children in detention — mandates basic necessities and access to legal representation, which are particularly relevant for the family’s situation.
Meanwhile, the current administration is seeking to modify or eliminate this longstanding legal agreement, arguing that it hampers their ability to enforce immigration laws effectively.
Critics have warned that these changes could lead to a decline in care standards for asylum seekers, particularly for those facing language barriers or unfamiliarity with the legal system.
With the family’s release occurring shortly after details of their detainment emerged to lawmakers and advocates, they returned to their residence in Seattle with continued uncertainty facing their asylum claim.
Following the family’s release, ACLU attorneys quickly established contact, noting the family’s isolation during their ordeal. “They weren’t allowed really any access to attorneys or communication with the outside world,” Baker highlighted, reinforcing demands for accountability.
The family, now back in Seattle, completed their journey with a powerful reminder of systemic challenges within the immigration process.
As they continue to seek asylum, members of the community rally support and awareness, emphasizing the need for transparent immigration policies that protect individual rights.
“I hope people will seriously think about what happened here, and think about ways that we can engage lawmakers to make sure it never happens again,” Baker expressed, encapsulating a call for reform in the wake of this family’s distressing experience.
image source from：https://www.opb.org/article/2025/05/28/like-a-jail-cell-family-of-six-detained-at-washington-state-border-facility-for-more-than-three-weeks/
