ICE Arrests Mother on Her Way to Work, and Her Son Dies Two Days Later

ICE Arrests Immigrant Mother

Son Died of Cancer

Family Denounces Treatment

An immigrant mother from Maryland was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents just days before her teenage son died of cancer, according to her family. They say she was unable to say goodbye to him.

Arlit María Martínez, 41, a mother of four, was detained on January 3 while on her way to work in Salisbury, Maryland. Two days later, her 15-year-old son Kevin passed away in the hospital.

The family claims that despite multiple efforts, ICE did not allow her temporary release to be with her son in his final moments or to say goodbye after his death.

ICE Arrests Immigrant Mother in Maryland

ICE detained Arlit Maria Martinez on her way to work. 2 days later, her 15 yo son died of cancer. They wouldn’t let her out to say goodbye. https://t.co/ESAyCElPce

— DrDinD He/Him (@DrDinD) January 12, 2026

According to the family’s testimony, Kevin had been diagnosed with cancer four months before his mother’s arrest. His health was fragile and required constant medical care.

On the day of the arrest, Martínez was taken to a detention center in Baltimore. The family maintains that after this, Kevin’s condition worsened rapidly.

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According to the GoFundMe page created by Ervin Martínez, Kevin’s brother, that same night the teenager had to be rushed to the hospital.

However, his condition was so unstable that he could not be transferred to his regular doctors in Baltimore. He remained hospitalized while his mother stayed in detention under ICE detention of an immigrant mother circumstances.

Kevin died two days later, without his mother by his side, according to the family’s account on the fundraising page.

The Mother’s Detention Situation

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Una publicación compartida por Areya 𝐘𝐀 𝐘𝐀 Walker (@bksmsfr3sh)

A woman identified as Arlit María Martínez-Carrada is currently listed as detained at the Delaney Hall detention center in New Jersey, according to ICE’s online database.

On the GoFundMe page, Ervin Martínez stated that his mother has no criminal record or prior deportations. He also said she has always worked to support her family.

The same text explains that Kevin’s father, Rigo Mendoza-López, has been unable to work because he was the teenager’s primary caregiver during his illness.

While his wife was detained, Mendoza-López stayed at the hospital with his son. The family says they attempted to contact ICE to request Martínez’s release.

According to their account, there were calls to the agency, visits from lawyers, and requests supported by medical documentation. Despite this, the mother was not released.

“Tragically, my brother Kevin lost his battle with cancer the next morning, and my mom was not allowed to be there to say goodbye,” Ervin Martínez wrote.

The Family’s Claim

After Kevin’s death, the family publicly asked federal authorities to release Arlit María Martínez. They say they do not know the reason for her detention.

“We don’t know why she is being detained,” the family stated on the fundraising page. They insist she poses no danger and has no criminal history.

Rigo Mendoza-López told WBOC that they tried to allow his wife to say goodbye to their son. “We tried to get her out, but they wouldn’t let her go,” he said.

“I don’t know why. She is not a criminal,” the husband added, visibly affected.

So far, more than $32,000 has been donated to the family through GoFundMe. The money will go toward funeral expenses and medical costs.

The family continues to ask for Martínez’s release so she can mourn the death of her son alongside her loved ones, highlighting once again the human impact of the ICE detention of an immigrant mother.