The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a statement regarding the detention of a Colombian family by agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The family was reportedly preparing to board a connecting flight to Florida when officers intercepted them.
According to earlier reporting, the family had an asylum application actively in process with US authorities, along with valid work permits, which raised questions about why they were detained despite following legal channels to remain in the country while their case was reviewed.
In its response, DHS confirmed the family’s immigration status and stated that they would be granted due process, meaning their case will be presented before an immigration judge rather than resolved through immediate deportation. The agency did not specify a timeline for that hearing or clarify the exact grounds that led ICE agents to stop the family before departure.
The case has drawn attention amid heightened scrutiny of US immigration enforcement practices, particularly involving families with pending legal claims. It remains unclear how long the family has been in the country or what specific triggered the airport stop.
For the full details on this developing story, read the original report at eltiempo.com.
Image: rickpilot_2000, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).