Colombian congresswoman Ángela Vergara stated that her son, Rafael Vergara, has been detained for more than 20 days in a migration center in Louisiana, in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a situation she described as marked by “inhumane” conditions. In an interview with CNN, the parliamentarian reported that the young man shares a cell with dozens of Colombians awaiting deportation and facing lack of water, disease and overcrowding.
According to the congresswoman, Rafael, 23, was approached during a routine inspection while driving a cargo truck on a Louisiana highway. After presenting documents to a transit agent, he was reportedly sent to immigration custody when an ICE team arrived at the scene. The deputy maintains that the son had a valid work permit, social security number and was awaiting an asylum hearing scheduled for 2028, which, in her opinion, makes the detention unjustified.
Vergara stated that he maintained initial silence in an attempt to resolve the case through administrative means, but decided to make it public given the delay in repatriation, even after Rafael requested voluntary departure from the country with judicial authorization. The parliamentarian asked President Gustavo Petro’s government to intervene diplomatically to speed up humanitarian flights and increase the frequency of transfers of Colombians detained in the United States.
The case occurs amid the tightening of immigration policies promoted by President Donald Trump, with expanded inspection operations, mass detentions and an increase in deportations. Data from the Department of Homeland Security indicates that hundreds of thousands of immigrants have been removed since the beginning of the current mandate, putting pressure on the detention system and increasing demand for repatriation flights.
The deputy attributes the delay in her son’s return to a logistical “bottleneck” between Washington and Bogotá, stating that thousands of Colombians are waiting for places on flights and remain in immigration custody even after decisions authorizing voluntary return. Air operations had been temporarily suspended during a diplomatic standoff between the two countries and were resumed at the end of January, with approximately one flight per week for deportees expected.
The exposure of the case generated criticism on social media due to the political positioning of Vergara, a member of the Colombian Conservative Party, often associated with security agendas aligned with the American right. Asked about the apparent contradiction, the parliamentarian responded that the complaint is not about an ideological dispute, but about human rights, stating that defending conservative policies does not imply accepting abuses against migrants.
The controversy gained a new chapter when President Petro mentioned the episode on social media and requested consular assistance for the young man, although he later deleted the publication. Vergara also denied having any connection with movements supporting Trump and challenged the circulation of videos and posts that attempted to associate her with pro-American government campaigns. According to the deputy, the decision to request her son’s voluntary return was motivated by the fear that he would remain in prison for years while awaiting a judicial decision on his immigration status. She stated that she considers returning to Colombia safer than prolonged stay in detention centers in the United States, reiterating the call for rapid repatriation and dignified treatment for Colombian citizens held abroad.
Source: https://www.ocafezinho.com/2026/02/19/deputada-colombiana-conservadora-denuncia-detencao-de-filho-por-ice-nos-eua/
