Chicago Teen Who Fought for Father's ICE Release Dies

Ofelia Torres Hidalgo, 16, passed away after battle with rare cancer

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, a 16-year-old Chicago resident, died on February 13 after a battle with stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of soft tissue cancer. Torres Hidalgo had gained national attention for fighting for her father's release after he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2025 during the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz" immigration enforcement campaign.

Why it matters

Torres Hidalgo's story highlighted the human impact of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and the challenges faced by immigrant families, especially those with children who are U.S. citizens. Her fight for her father's release brought attention to the hardships caused by ICE detentions and deportations.

The details

Torres Hidalgo was undergoing cancer treatment when her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was arrested in October 2025 at a Home Depot store in suburban Chicago. Torres Hidalgo posted a video on social media calling for his release, describing her father as a hardworking immigrant who cared for her younger brother while she stayed in the hospital. An immigration judge later ruled that Torres Maldonado was unlawfully detained and he was released on bond.

  • On October 18, 2025, Torres Maldonado was detained by ICE agents as he was leaving a Home Depot store in Niles, Illinois.
  • On October 24, 2025, an immigration judge ruled that Torres Maldonado was unlawfully detained and he was later released on bond.
  • On February 13, 2026, Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo passed away after a battle with stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

The players

Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo

A 16-year-old Chicago resident who fought for her father's release from ICE detention and passed away from a rare form of cancer.

Ruben Torres Maldonado

The father of Ofelia Torres Hidalgo, who was detained by ICE in 2025 during the Trump administration's "Operation Midway Blitz" immigration enforcement campaign.

Kalman Resnick

The attorney representing Ruben Torres Maldonado.

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago, who mourned the passing of Ofelia Torres Hidalgo.

Valerie Wadycki

Ofelia Torres Hidalgo's in-home teacher, who set up a GoFundMe page to assist the family.

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What they’re saying

“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 attorney

“Today I join Chicagoans across our city in mourning Ofelia Torres — a young woman who fought for her father and her family in the face of a cruel, targeted campaign through which Donald Trump has sought to strip from us the very humanity that defines our families and our communities.”

— Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

What’s next

The family is making private funeral arrangements for Ofelia Torres Hidalgo.

The takeaway

Ofelia Torres Hidalgo's story highlights the devastating human impact of aggressive immigration enforcement tactics and the courage of young people fighting for their families in the face of such cruelty. Her fight for her father's release and her tragic passing serve as a poignant reminder of the need for compassionate, family-centered immigration policies.