Teen Cancer Patient Dies After Calling for Dad'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 teen who fought for her undocumented father's release from immigration detention while she was battling stage 4 cancer, has died. Torres died on Friday from metastatic alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Just three days before her death, an immigration judge ruled that her father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was conditionally entitled to receive cancellation of removal, which could provide a pathway to a green card.

Why it matters

This tragic story highlights the human toll of the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement policies, which separated families and caused significant hardship, even for those facing serious medical issues. It also underscores the challenges undocumented immigrants face in navigating the complex U.S. immigration system.

The details

Torres grabbed national attention last fall after her father was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during the Trump administration's 'Operation Midway Blitz.' Torres posted a video on social media calling for his release and was interviewed on ABC News' 'Nightline.' Despite her cancer diagnosis, Torres fought tirelessly for her father's freedom, and just days before her death, an immigration judge ruled that he was conditionally entitled to cancellation of removal.

  • Ofelia Torres died on Friday, February 14, 2026.
  • Torres' father, Ruben Torres-Maldonado, was detained by ICE agents on October 18, 2025.
  • Three days before her death, an immigration judge ruled that Torres-Maldonado was conditionally entitled to cancellation of removal.

The players

Ofelia Torres

A 16-year-old Chicago teen who fought for her undocumented father's release from immigration detention while she was battling stage 4 cancer.

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.

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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, Attorney representing Ruben Torres-Maldonado (mycentraloregon.com)

“To the ICE agents who smashed my dad's window, to the ICE agent who pointed a gun at my dad, I'm not mad at you … I just want you to know that that was not the right thing to do.”

— Ofelia Torres (ABC News)

What’s next

The immigration judge's ruling that Ruben Torres-Maldonado was conditionally entitled to cancellation of removal could provide a pathway to a green card, but the final decision is still pending.

The takeaway

Ofelia Torres' tragic story underscores the human toll of aggressive immigration enforcement policies, and her courageous fight for her father's freedom, even in the face of her own terminal illness, serves as an inspiration for others facing similar challenges.