Minnesota Mother Resumes Fight to Stay with U.S. Citizen Children After ICE Detention

A Minnesota mother of three was released from an ICE detention facility at Fort Bliss with an ankle monitor as her National Guard son fights to help her gain legal status.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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After a month in an ICE detention facility at Fort Bliss, a Minnesota mother of three named Lidia Escobar Maya was released with an ankle monitor. Her 24-year-old son, who serves in the Army National Guard, traveled from Minnesota to El Paso to pick her up so she wouldn't have to travel alone. Lidia has lived in the same Minnesota community for 17 years, attends the same church, and is described as a deeply devout Catholic and servant leader. While detained, Lidia endured difficult conditions including having her hands zip-tied, wearing shackles, and lacking access to basic necessities. Lidia had filed a military parole application prior to her detention, as her son's military service is one way a U.S. citizen child can help a parent who entered the country without inspection adjust their status.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges faced by undocumented immigrants, even those with strong community ties and U.S. citizen family members, as they navigate the complex U.S. immigration system. Lidia's detention despite her pending military parole application raises questions about ICE enforcement practices and the limited options available to help undocumented parents of U.S. citizens gain legal status.

The details

Lidia Escobar Maya, a 43-year-old Minnesota resident, was detained by ICE on January 12 and held at the Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss for 30 days before being released on February 11 with an ankle monitor. During her detention, Lidia described enduring difficult conditions including having her hands zip-tied, wearing shackles on her hands, feet, and waist, sleeping in wet beds due to rain, and lacking access to basic necessities like adequate food, blankets, and over-the-counter pain medication. Despite these hardships, Lidia maintained her faith, leading prayer circles and Bible studies to support the other detainees.

  • Lidia Escobar Maya was detained by ICE on January 12, 2026.
  • Lidia was held at the Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss for 30 days.
  • Lidia was released from detention on February 11, 2026.

The players

Lidia Escobar Maya

A 43-year-old Minnesota resident who was detained by ICE for 30 days at the Camp East Montana detention facility at Fort Bliss. Lidia has three U.S. citizen children, including a 24-year-old son who serves in the Army National Guard.

Terja Bouvin Larsen

A Minnesota immigration attorney who represented Lidia Escobar Maya and advocated for her release.

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What they’re saying

“This woman of faith described her hands being zip-tied and the marks on her wrists. She described the shackles she had to wear on her hands, feet and waist. She described the times it rained and the beds got all wet in the temporary detention buildings, not much better than tents. The women had to double up in the remaining dry beds.”

— Terja Bouvin Larsen, Immigration Attorney (elpasomatters.org)

“Lidia described the cold she was experiencing and the fact that they only got one blanket each. She described having to wear the same pants every day and wear a towel while her pants were air-drying after hand-washing them in the bathroom sink with a tiny packet of shampoo.”

— Terja Bouvin Larsen, Immigration Attorney (elpasomatters.org)

What’s next

Lidia's son, who serves in the Army National Guard, is continuing to fight to help his mother gain legal status through the military parole in place process. The judge overseeing Lidia's case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow her to be released on bail while her immigration case is pending.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult choices and harsh realities faced by undocumented immigrants, even those with strong community ties and U.S. citizen family members. It underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform to provide more pathways to legal status, especially for parents of U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for decades.