Chicago Teen Dies of Rare Cancer After Calling for Father's ICE Release

Ofelia Torres, 16, advocated for her father's freedom while battling Stage 4 cancer.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old from Chicago, died on Friday from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Just months before her death, Ofelia had posted a video on Instagram calling for the release of her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Torres Maldonado was released about two weeks later after a judge considered Ofelia's medical treatment.

Why it matters

Ofelia's story highlights the difficult situations faced by immigrant families, especially when a parent's detention can have profound impacts on their children. Her advocacy for her father's release while battling a terminal illness underscores the human toll of immigration enforcement policies.

The details

Ofelia Torres was diagnosed with Stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in December 2024. Her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was arrested by ICE on October 18, 2025, while Ofelia was home from the hospital. In a video posted to Instagram, Ofelia called for her father's release, describing him as a hardworking immigrant who cared for her family. Torres Maldonado was released on $2,000 bond about two weeks later after a judge considered Ofelia's treatment.

  • Ofelia Torres was diagnosed with cancer in December 2024.
  • Ruben Torres Maldonado was arrested by ICE on October 18, 2025.
  • Torres Maldonado was released on bond about two weeks after his arrest.

The players

Ofelia Torres

A 16-year-old Chicago resident who died from a rare form of cancer after advocating for her father's release from ICE detention.

Ruben Torres Maldonado

Ofelia's father, who was arrested by ICE and later released on bond after a judge considered his daughter's medical treatment.

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What they’re saying

“My dad, like many others, is a hardworking person who wakes up early in the morning and goes to work without complaining, thinking about his family. I find it so unfair that hardworking immigrant families are being targeted just because they were not born here.”

— Ofelia Torres (Instagram)

“Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE's detention and threatened deportation of her father. We mourn Ofelia's passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what's right to our last breaths.”

— Kalman Resnick, Torres Maldonado's lawyer (NBC News)

What’s next

A Chicago judge recently ruled that Ruben Torres Maldonado is entitled to a cancellation of removal, which is expected to provide a pathway for him to obtain permanent residence and citizenship in the U.S.

The takeaway

Ofelia's story underscores the immense challenges faced by immigrant families, especially when a parent's detention can have devastating impacts on their children. Her courage in advocating for her father's release, even while battling terminal illness, serves as an inspiration to continue fighting for more humane and compassionate immigration policies.