Illinois Governor Mourns Passing of Teenage Activist Ofelia Torres

Ofelia Torres, 16, fought for her father's release from ICE detention as she battled rare cancer

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has offered his condolences to the family of Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old who fought to get her father released from immigration detention as she battled a rare and deadly cancer. Torres passed away on Friday, just days after an immigration judge ruled that her father's deportation could be halted due to the hardships on his children, who are U.S. citizens, and on Ofelia in particular.

Why it matters

Ofelia Torres' story highlights the difficult challenges faced by immigrant families, especially when a family member is seriously ill. Her fight to keep her father from being deported while she was battling cancer drew national attention and sparked conversations about immigration policy and its impact on children.

The details

Ofelia Torres had a rare cancer of the soft tissues. Her father, Rueben Torres, had been arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in a Niles Home Depot parking lot on Oct. 18, at the height of Operation Midway Blitz. The teen fought for her father's release, testifying for the court even in her fragile state. A judge eventually ruled his rights were violated when he was detained without a bond hearing, and he was later released on $2,000 bond as his deportation case made its way through the system.

  • Ofelia Torres passed away on Friday, February 16, 2026.
  • An immigration judge ruled just days before her death that her father's deportation could be halted due to the hardships on his children.

The players

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois who offered his condolences to the Torres family and called Ofelia Torres "a symbol of strength at a time when even the strongest would have bowed."

Ofelia Torres

A 16-year-old girl who fought to get her father released from immigration detention as she battled a rare and deadly cancer. She passed away on February 16, 2026.

Rueben Torres

Ofelia Torres' father, who was arrested by ICE and detained without a bond hearing. An immigration judge later ruled that his deportation could be halted due to the hardships on his children.

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What they’re saying

“Ofelia Torres was a symbol of strength at a time when even the strongest would have bowed.”

— JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Torres family is expected to hold a memorial service for Ofelia in the coming days.

The takeaway

Ofelia Torres' story underscores the human toll of the U.S. immigration system, particularly on families with children who are U.S. citizens. Her fight to keep her father from being deported while she battled cancer inspired many and sparked important conversations about immigration policy and its impact on vulnerable populations.