DACA Recipient Detained by ICE, Impacting Nebraska Family

Angel-Becerril family faces uncertainty and hardship as 27-year-old DACA recipient Joel is held by immigration authorities

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:47pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained 27-year-old Joel Angel-Becerril, a DACA recipient, in Omaha, Nebraska, leaving his mixed-status family in turmoil. His younger brother Angel, a U.S. citizen, has stepped up to support the family financially and emotionally as they await Joel's possible deportation to Mexico, a country he hasn't lived in since age 5. The ACLU of Nebraska has filed a federal lawsuit seeking Joel's release or a bond hearing, which ICE has denied.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing impact of the Trump administration's ramped-up deportation strategy on mixed-status families, where some members have legal status and others are vulnerable to deportation. The detention of a DACA recipient in Nebraska is a new development, raising concerns about the future of the DACA program and the fate of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children.

The details

Joel Angel-Becerril, a 27-year-old DACA recipient, was detained by ICE agents on December 2 after being released from Douglas County custody, where he had been held on a choking-related assault charge that was later dismissed. ICE then transported him to Sarpy County, where he is being held on an ICE detainer. The ACLU of Nebraska has filed a federal lawsuit seeking his release or a bond hearing, which ICE has denied based on a new interpretation of the law and policy change that asserts most detained immigrants are ineligible for bond.

  • Joel Angel-Becerril was detained by ICE on December 2, 2025, after being released from Douglas County custody.
  • The ACLU of Nebraska filed a federal lawsuit on February 6, 2026, seeking Joel's release or a bond hearing.

The players

Joel Angel-Becerril

A 27-year-old DACA recipient who has been detained by ICE and is facing possible deportation to Mexico, a country he hasn't lived in since he was 5 years old.

Angel Angel-Becerril

Joel's 22-year-old younger brother, a U.S. citizen who has stepped up to support the family financially and emotionally during Joel's detention.

ACLU of Nebraska

A civil liberties organization that has filed a federal lawsuit seeking Joel's release or a bond hearing, which ICE has denied.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“He'll say, 'I miss Joel.' I tell him that everything is going to turn out okay.”

— Angel Angel-Becerril, Joel's younger brother (Nebraska Examiner)

“The way my skin color is, I don't feel safe. I feel like I can still be questioned. … It's ridiculous.”

— Angel Angel-Becerril, Joel's younger brother (Nebraska Examiner)

What’s next

The ACLU of Nebraska's federal lawsuit seeking Joel's release or a bond hearing is pending. A judge will decide whether to grant the request.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges and uncertainty faced by mixed-status families in the U.S., where some members have legal status while others are vulnerable to deportation. The detention of a DACA recipient in Nebraska raises concerns about the future of the DACA program and the broader impact of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies.