University of Maryland Student, Mother Held in ICE Custody in Louisiana
Maria Flores Garcia, a 19-year-old University of Maryland freshman and former high school valedictorian, remains in federal immigration custody this week alongside her mother after the pair was detained during a routine check-in in Baltimore, according to her family and officials.
Flores Garcia and her mother were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, Nov. 5, after arriving at an annual appointment that had previously taken about 30 minutes, her boyfriend, Cesar Saavedra, told local outlets. The two have since been transferred to an ICE facility in Louisiana. Saavedra said he has spoken with Flores Garcia by phone several times since her detention, describing her mood as fluctuating between hope and helplessness.
The detention has sparked swift backlash from Prince George’s County leaders. County Executive Aisha Braveboy said in a statement she was “outraged and deeply concerned” by the arrest of a “law abiding county resident,” adding, “Maria and her mother should know they are not alone: the people of Prince George’s County stand firmly with them. We are calling for Maria’s immediate release and safe return home.”
Detention Followed Routine Immigration Check-In
According to Saavedra, ICE officers at the Baltimore appointment asked Flores Garcia whether she wanted to remain with her mother or leave the premises. She chose to stay with her mother, not knowing whether they would be interviewed or detained, he said. Both were taken into custody minutes later.
Saavedra has launched a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $25,000 for the mother and daughter's legal fees. The two are represented by immigration lawyers from Murray Osorio PLLC, which did not respond to a request for comment.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said Flores Garcia entered the United States illegally at an unknown time and was arrested in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in December 2016. She was released into the country and placed in removal proceedings, and an immigration judge issued a final order of removal in February 2021, according to DHS. The agency said she will remain in ICE custody pending deportation.
A Valedictorian’s Journey From El Salvador to ICE Custody
Flores Garcia arrived in the United States from El Salvador at age 9 and delivered an emotional valedictorian speech at Parkdale High School’s graduation in Prince George’s County in May 2026, just months before her detention. In the address, she described the challenge of starting over as a child who struggled to understand English and relied on others to translate simple instructions.
“At the age of 9, like many other children, I faced the challenge of starting over,” she said in the speech, according to NBC4 Washington. “I was the new girl, who struggled to understand words and had to wait for someone to translate even the simplest instructions.”
She earned a full scholarship to the University of Maryland, where she has been studying public health and hopes to become a doctor, Saavedra said. The university confirmed it was aware that one of its students was taken into custody off campus by immigration authorities.
Family and Community Rally for Release
Saavedra, who has been with Flores Garcia since eighth grade, said the couple celebrated their five-year anniversary the week she was detained. In his GoFundMe, he described her as “a very hardworking and intelligent young woman” who has dedicated her life to her education and goals.
The case has drawn attention from Maryland lawmakers, who have called for the release of Flores Garcia and her mother. The detention also comes amid heightened scrutiny of ICE enforcement practices, including a surge in habeas corpus petitions challenging detention. As DOJ Scales Back Defense of ICE Detention Cases as Habeas Petitions Surge, cases like Flores Garcia’s are likely to test the limits of immigration enforcement and due process in the coming months.
Broader Implications for Immigration Enforcement
The detention of a high-achieving student and her mother has become a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration enforcement, particularly in Maryland, where local officials have increasingly clashed with federal authorities. Prince George’s County has seen multiple high-profile detentions in recent weeks, including a New Carrollton man taken into ICE custody, according to local reports.
The case also highlights the vulnerability of individuals with final orders of removal who have lived in the U.S. for years without incident. Flores Garcia’s 2021 removal order predates her high school graduation and college enrollment, raising questions about how immigration authorities prioritize enforcement actions against long-term residents with deep community ties.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, immigration enforcement is expected to remain a divisive issue. For now, Flores Garcia’s family and supporters are focused on securing her release and a legal path forward, hoping that her story will draw attention to the human stakes of immigration policy.
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