UPDATE: Ruben Torres Maldonado, father of a 16-year-old daughter fighting stage 4 cancer, has bravely spoken out about the inhumane conditions he endured at the ICE facility in Broadview. In an exclusive interview with ABC7 Chicago, Torres detailed his harrowing experience while in DHS custody, expressing both gratitude for his release and deep concern for others still detained.
Torres, who was apprehended outside a Home Depot in Niles on October 18, 2023, faced an overwhelming sense of helplessness as he watched his American dream fade away. “I’m so happy… thanks to the people who support my family in this situation,” he told reporters after returning home to the Northwest Side of Chicago just a week ago.
His detention was ruled unlawful by a federal judge last month, who ordered a prompt bond hearing. Despite this, DHS maintains that Torres was justified in being detained due to a history of reckless driving and alleged non-compliance during his arrest, including backing his vehicle into a government car.
Torres recounted the harsh conditions he faced at the Broadview facility, describing crowded rooms with inadequate sanitation. “It’s inhumane because the conditions are bad. There’s a lot of people in a room and there were only two bathrooms,” he explained in Spanish. His testimony this week highlighted the dire need for reform, which a federal judge has now mandated, calling for improvements to hygiene and sleeping arrangements at the facility.
“Nobody deserves to be there,” Torres asserted, reflecting the emotional turmoil his family faced during his absence. His daughter Ofelia, hearing her father’s testimony for the first time, described it as a “horrible” experience. “I saw his face, his facial expressions. He was reliving everything,” she said.
The federal judge’s ruling also allows Torres to apply for cancellation of removal, recognizing the significant burden his deportation would impose on his family. Despite being deemed not a threat to the community, Torres must now wear an ankle monitor and faces restrictions on his ability to work, impacting his long-standing career in paint and construction since his arrival in the U.S. in 2003.
Torres expressed deep concern for his family during his detention. “All I could think of was my daughter, my wife, and my family,” he said. “If I were deported, it would be very difficult for my wife to carry the family’s burden, especially with my daughter’s condition.”
With Ofelia continuing her fight against cancer, she finds solace in having her father back home. “We spend time together just being lazy, honestly—watching movies, eating together, just simple things,” she shared. “I am so happy to have him back. Those two weeks without him were really hard.”
Torres’s legal team is now actively working on his immigration case, aiming for a favorable outcome that would allow him to remain with his family. As the situation continues to develop, the community remains hopeful for systemic changes at ICE facilities to prevent such injustices from reoccurring.
Stay tuned for further updates as this urgent story unfolds.
