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Niles Today
By the People, for the People
Chicago Teen Dies of Cancer After Advocating for Father's ICE Release
Ofelia Torres, 16, fought 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 Chicago resident, died on Friday after a battle with stage 4 metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Torres had gained national attention last fall for posting a video on social media calling for the release of her undocumented father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Why it matters
This tragic story highlights the human toll of the Trump administration's immigration policies, as well as the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants and their families. Torres' fight for her father's freedom while battling a terminal illness drew national attention to the plight of mixed-status families.
The details
Torres was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2025. Just three days before her death, an immigration judge ruled that her father was conditionally entitled to receive cancellation of removal, which could provide a pathway to a green card. Torres watched the hearing virtually. In an interview with ABC News' 'Nightline' last fall, Torres said she initially tried to keep her cancer diagnosis private, but decided to speak out to defend her father.
- Ofelia Torres died on Friday, February 14, 2026.
- Torres was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in 2025.
- Torres' father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was detained by ICE agents on October 18, 2025 and released on bond about two weeks later.
The players
Ofelia Torres
A 16-year-old Chicago resident who battled stage 4 cancer and advocated for the release of her undocumented father from ICE custody.
Ruben Torres-Maldonado
Ofelia Torres' undocumented father, who was detained by ICE agents during the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.
Kalman Resnick
The attorney representing Ruben Torres-Maldonado.
Tricia McLaughlin
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary who alleged that Torres-Maldonado had backed into a government vehicle while attempting to flee.
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, Attorney representing Ruben Torres-Maldonado (ABC News)
“I need the world to know my dad's story and if that means letting the world know I have cancer, so be it. I don't care. I need my dad.”
— Ofelia Torres (ABC News)
What’s next
The immigration judge's ruling that Ruben Torres-Maldonado was conditionally entitled to receive cancellation of removal could provide a pathway to a green card, though the final outcome remains uncertain.
The takeaway
Ofelia Torres' courageous fight to free her father from ICE detention while battling terminal cancer shines a light on the human toll of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies, and the challenges faced by mixed-status families.
