A two-year-old girl was taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody with her father in Minneapolis on Thursday and flown to Texas, only to be returned to her mother the following day, according to the family’s attorney.
The incident has raised serious legal and procedural questions, as the transfer occurred despite a federal court order requiring the child’s immediate release, according to an affidavit filed by the family lawyer, Kira Kelley.
The toddler, identified in court documents as C.R.T.V., and her father, Elvis Tipan-Echeverria, are citizens of Ecuador. The child has lived in Minneapolis since birth and has a pending asylum application. The father remains in ICE custody.
Court Orders and Family Response
The family’s lawyer stated that the court had authorized immediate release of the child, temporarily granting custody to the attorney to retrieve her from federal detention.
The court’s order cited “overwhelming risk of irreparable harm” if the toddler remained in custody.
Despite the order, federal agents placed the child and her father on a commercial flight to Texas Thursday evening, January 22, 2026 .
ICE reportedly returned the child to Minnesota the next day, but the father remained detained. Kelley described the experience as a “horrific ordeal” for the toddler.
Circumstances of the Arrest
According to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statements, agents pursued the father after observing “erratic driving with a child in the vehicle.” DHS also claimed that the father initially refused lawful commands to open his car door, prompting officers to break the window to remove him and the child.
Video footage of the arrest shows a large crowd confronting armed and masked federal agents, with some witnesses reporting the use of chemical agents to disperse protesters.
DHS stated that obstructing federal officers is a federal crime, but the family disputes the characterization, highlighting that the toddler was placed in the back of an ICE vehicle without a car seat.
Legal and Humanitarian Implications
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile ICE detentions in Minnesota, including the recent removal of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, highlighting ongoing concerns about the detention of children and family separation in U.S. immigration enforcement.
Legal experts say the situation may constitute a violation of federal court orders and raises questions about the limits of agency discretion in child custody and immigration enforcement.
Next Steps
The father remains in ICE custody in Minnesota while court proceedings continue, and legal advocates are monitoring compliance with the court’s directives to ensure the child’s welfare.
The family’s attorney has called for accountability and transparency in ICE operations, emphasizing the trauma inflicted on the toddler and her family.
