Mother Released from ICE Custody After Zipps Raid, Husband Remains Detained

A mother of three was freed from an Eloy detention facility, while her husband is still in DHS custody following a January raid at a Zipps Sports Grill.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:49am

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A warm, cinematic painting depicting a mother and daughter embracing in a dimly lit room, the mother's face filled with relief and the daughter's with joy, capturing the emotional reunion after the mother's release from ICE custody.A mother's long-awaited embrace with her daughter after being released from ICE detention exposes the human toll of the nation's complex immigration policies.Phoenix Today

A mother of three, Monica, was recently released from an Eloy detention facility after being detained by ICE during a January raid at a Zipps Sports Grill, while her husband Jose remains in Department of Homeland Security custody. The family had hired an immigration attorney a week before the raid to help change their immigration status, as their daughter's recent autism diagnosis qualified them to apply for medical relief.

Why it matters

The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by undocumented immigrant families in the U.S., with the mother's release contrasting with her husband's continued detention despite neither having any criminal history. It also raises questions about the discretionary nature of immigration enforcement and the impact on families.

The details

During the raid at the Zipps Sports Grill where Monica was working in food preparation, she thought about her three kids and how she would not be coming home to them that night. Her husband Jose told her not to resist. While detained, Monica described trying to sleep with a broken air conditioner, eating breakfast served around 3 or 4 a.m., and constantly worrying about her kids, the youngest of whom is 4 years old.

  • In late January, ICE conducted raids at Zipps Sports Grills.
  • A week before the raids, the family hired an immigration attorney to help change their immigration status.
  • Monica was released from an Eloy detention facility more than two months after being detained.

The players

Monica

A mother of three who was detained by ICE during a raid at a Zipps Sports Grill where she was working, but was recently released from an Eloy detention facility.

Jose

Monica's husband, who was also detained during the Zipps raid and remains in Department of Homeland Security custody.

Rosa Barrera

Monica's 18-year-old daughter who was overjoyed to be reunited with her mother after more than two months.

Sheree Wright

The immigration attorney hired by the family a week before the raids to help change their immigration status, as their daughter's recent autism diagnosis qualified them to apply for medical relief.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The government agency that detained Jose and continues to hold him in custody.

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What they’re saying

“'Oh, God, they're going to arrest us,'”

— Monica

“Both of their cases are fundamentally the same. The difference is in the judge. Immigration is discretionary, the form of relief is discretionary,”

— Sheree Wright, Immigration Attorney

“If only he were here with us,”

— Monica

What’s next

The family continues to pray that Jose will find a path home and be reunited with his wife and children.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex and often discretionary nature of immigration enforcement, with the mother's release contrasting with her husband's continued detention despite neither having a criminal history. It underscores the ongoing challenges faced by undocumented immigrant families in the U.S. and the need for comprehensive immigration reform.