Chicago Teen Who Called For Father's Release From Ice Detention Dies Of Rare Cancer - Beritaja

A Chicago teen whose begetter was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement past twelvemonth arsenic she was sick pinch a uncommon shape of crab has died.

Ofelia Torres died connected Friday astatine the property of 16 from Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a uncommon and fierce crab that affects the soft tissue. She was diagnosed pinch crab successful December 2024.

Her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was arrested connected Oct. 18, 2025, while she was location from the infirmary spending clip pinch her family. Ofelia posted a video to Instagram pursuing his apprehension calling for his merchandise and raising consciousness about different families successful akin positions.

Torres Maldonado was released connected $2,000 enslaved about 2 weeks later, aft a judge took his daughter's curen into information during a hearing, NBC Chicago antecedently reported.

In the video, the teen said her begetter was a hardworking migrant who watched her relative while she stayed astatine the infirmary for treatment.

“My dad, for illustration galore others, is simply a hardworking personification who wakes up early successful the greeting and goes to activity without complaining, reasoning about his family,” Ofelia says successful the video. “I find it truthful unfair that hardworking migrant families are being targeted conscionable because they were not calved here.”

The video featured pictures of Torres Maldonado and his family, arsenic good arsenic of Ofelia astatine the hospital.

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, did not instantly respond to a petition for comment.

In a previous connection regarding the apprehension of Ruben Torres Maldonado, the Department of Homeland Security wrote: “He’s been charged aggregate times pinch driving without insurance, driving without a valid license, and speeding. During his apprehension he did not comply pinch instructions from the officers and attempted to fly successful his conveyance and backed into a authorities vehicle.”

Shortly earlier Ofelia’s death, a Chicago judge ruled that her begetter was entitled to a cancellation of removal because his deportation would effect his U.S. national children negatively, according to a typical for the family. This ruling is expected to supply a pathway for Torres Maldonado to get imperishable residence successful the U.S. and citizenship, per the spokesperson.

Ofelia, who was a inferior astatine Chicago’s Lake View High School, was coming for the proceeding via Zoom 3 days earlier her death, according to the spokesperson.

“Ofelia was heroic and brave successful the look of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father,” said Kalman Resnick, Torres Maldonado’s lawyer. “We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we dream that she will service arsenic a exemplary for america each for really to beryllium courageous and to conflict for what’s correct to our past breaths.”