Chula Vista Mother Released from ICE Custody on Son's Birthday

Kris Estefany Pineda-Torregrosa reunited with her children after nearly two weeks in detention, but her husband remains in custody.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A Chula Vista mother, Kris Estefany Pineda-Torregrosa, was released from ICE custody on Monday evening, which happened to be her youngest child's fourth birthday. Pineda-Torregrosa was detained along with her husband, Reinaldo, in late January, leaving their two sons, ages 4 and 12, without a legal guardian. Family friend Itzel Jimenez stepped in to care for the children. Immigration attorney Nerea Woods argued that ICE violated its own policy by detaining both parents simultaneously, and after over a week of requests, ICE confirmed that the parents lack lawful status to remain in the country but did not explain why both were detained.

Why it matters

This case highlights the impact of ICE's detention policies on families, leaving children without legal guardians and raising questions about the agency's practices. It also showcases the importance of community support and legal advocacy in these situations.

The details

Kris Estefany Pineda-Torregrosa, a mother from Colombia, was released from the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Monday evening after nearly two weeks of detention. She was fitted with an ankle monitor after ICE granted her parole request. However, her husband, Reinaldo, remains in ICE custody. The couple was detained by ICE in late January in Chula Vista, leaving their two sons, ages 4 and 12, without a legal guardian. Family friend Itzel Jimenez stepped in to care for the children when no other family members lived nearby. Immigration attorney Nerea Woods took on the case through the county's Immigrant Legal Defense Program and argued that ICE violated its own policy regarding the detention and removal of parents with minor children by detaining both parents simultaneously.

  • Pineda-Torregrosa and her husband were detained by ICE in late January 2026.
  • Pineda-Torregrosa was released from ICE custody on February 10, 2026, which happened to be her youngest child's fourth birthday.

The players

Kris Estefany Pineda-Torregrosa

A mother from Colombia who was released from ICE custody on her son's birthday after nearly two weeks of detention.

Reinaldo

Pineda-Torregrosa's Venezuelan husband, who remains in ICE custody.

Itzel Jimenez

A family friend who stepped in to care for Pineda-Torregrosa's two sons, ages 4 and 12, when the parents were detained.

Nerea Woods

An immigration attorney who took on the case through the county's Immigrant Legal Defense Program and argued that ICE violated its own policy by detaining both parents simultaneously.

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What they’re saying

“It was either they were going to go to CPS because no one was going to pick them up, or they're going to come with somebody that they knew, so I decided to just take them.”

— Itzel Jimenez, Family friend (10news.com)

“It's heartbreaking that we ever had to get to this point.”

— Nerea Woods, Immigration attorney (10news.com)

“It was very clear to me that legally it should have never happened. I think that when we made it publicly known that it shouldn't have happened, I hope that really pushed ICE to do the right thing.”

— Nerea Woods, Immigration attorney (10news.com)

What’s next

Woods says she'll continue to fight for Reinaldo's release, hoping to work on their removal case without requiring continued custody.

The takeaway

This case highlights the impact of ICE's detention policies on families, leaving children without legal guardians and raising questions about the agency's practices. It also showcases the importance of community support and legal advocacy in these situations.