ICE Detains Deaf Child Without Hearing Aids

Rep. Eric Swalwell working to return family to U.S. under humanitarian parole

Mar. 9, 2026 at 8:48pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 6-year-old Deaf boy named Joseph Rodriguez was detained by ICE along with his mother and younger brother while attending a check-in appointment. The family, who were seeking asylum from Colombia, were deported without Joseph's hearing aids, leaving him unable to hear. Rep. Eric Swalwell is now working to secure the family's return to the U.S. under humanitarian parole.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about ICE's treatment of vulnerable individuals, including children and those with disabilities, during the deportation process. The lack of accommodations for Joseph's Deafness raises questions about ICE's ability to properly care for detainees with special needs.

The details

Joseph Rodriguez, a 6-year-old Deaf boy, was detained by ICE along with his mother Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez and 4-year-old brother while attending a check-in appointment at a California ICE office. The family, who were seeking asylum from Colombia, were quickly deported without Joseph's hearing aids, leaving him unable to hear. Rep. Eric Swalwell, whose district the family lived in, is now working with the family's lawyers to secure their return to the U.S. under humanitarian parole.

  • Last week, Joseph Rodriguez was detained by ICE during a check-in appointment.
  • Over the weekend, Rep. Swalwell sent staff to Colombia to try to return Joseph's hearing aids to him.

The players

Joseph Rodriguez

A 6-year-old Deaf boy who was detained by ICE and deported to Colombia without his hearing aids.

Lesly Rodriguez Gutierrez

Joseph's mother, an asylum seeker from Colombia fleeing domestic violence.

Rep. Eric Swalwell

A U.S. Congressman whose district the family lived in, and who is working to secure their return to the U.S. under humanitarian parole.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This child has been dragged from detention center to detention center, to places that are not meant for children. They are definitely not built for children with severe disabilities. It's inhuman, illegal, and unconstitutional.”

— Joseph's attorney

“Think about that for a moment: a six-year-old child with a disability suddenly in a different country, separated from the country he has come to know, now surrounded by silence. The horror stories from this White House continue from ICE.”

— Rep. Eric Swalwell

What’s next

Rep. Swalwell's office is working with the family's lawyers to secure their return to the U.S. under humanitarian parole, but the timeline for this process is unclear.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for greater accountability and oversight of ICE's treatment of vulnerable detainees, including children and individuals with disabilities. It raises serious concerns about the agency's ability to properly accommodate the needs of those in its custody.