ICE Detains 2-Year-Old Girl Alongside Her Father as Family Seeks Help
A 2-year-old girl was detained by ICE in Minneapolis during an operation involving her father, triggering alarm among local officials.
Posted on 25/01/2026 at 22:23
- ICE Detains 2-Year-Old Girl
- Operation Without a Warrant
- Conflicting Official Accounts
The detention of a 2-year-old girl alongside her father by federal agents sparked concern among local officials and the immigrant community in Minneapolis.
A 2-year-old girl and her father were detained by ICE agents on Thursday, according to a Minneapolis city council member.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the detention of the father, who was with a child at the time of the operation.
2-Year-Old Girl Detained by ICE in Minneapolis
The incident occurred in south Minneapolis as the father and child were returning home from the grocery store.
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Minneapolis City Council member Jason Chávez reported on Instagram that Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverría and his daughter, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, were abducted.
According to Chávez, a suspicious vehicle followed the father to his home.
The council member stated that the occupants broke the vehicle’s window and took both the father and the child.
Chávez wrote that no judicial warrant was presented during the operation.
In a brief interview with NBC News, Chávez confirmed that agents abducted them.
He also said he met with the father’s family on Thursday night.
A DHS spokesperson confirmed that authorities detained Tipan-Echeverría.
The spokesperson stated that agents intercepted the father while he was driving with Chloe Renata Tipan in the vehicle.
The agency did not identify the child’s name, age, or gender at that time.
What DHS Says
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Tipan-Echeverría is “an illegal immigrant from Ecuador.”
According to the statement, the father committed the felony offense of illegal reentry.
DHS said he violated U.S. law.
The agency also claimed that Tipan-Echeverría was driving erratically with Chloe Renata Tipan in the vehicle.
The DHS spokesperson said authorities took custody of the child.
They added that the child’s mother declined to take custody at that moment.
According to DHS, the child and father are now reunited at a federal facility.
No further details were provided regarding the location or conditions of their detention.
Reactions and Context
Council member Chávez’s account differs from the official DHS version.
Chávez described the operation as a kidnapping and denounced the use of force.
He reiterated that a suspicious vehicle followed the father prior to the arrest.
He emphasized that no warrant was presented during the detention.
The case has raised concern due to the involvement of Chloe Renata Tipan.
DHS has avoided publicly confirming specific details about the child.
The child’s mother has launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe.
The goal is to cover legal fees and other costs related to the case.
So far, federal authorities have not expanded on their version of events.
Council member Chávez stated publicly that he continues to support and accompany the family.
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