Canadian Mother and Daughter Detained by ICE
Tania Warner and her seven-year-old daughter Ayla Luca, who has autism, were detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly a week. According to Edward Warner, Tania's husband, the pair were transferred to a notorious detention center in Texas and told to "self-deport." Edward Warner described the experience as "traumatizing" for both his wife and daughter.
Background and Detainment Details
Tania Warner and Ayla, originally from British Columbia, moved to the United States five years ago after Tania married Edward Warner, a US citizen. The family resides in Kingsville, Texas. On 14 March, while driving home from a baby shower in Raymondville, they were stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in Sarita, Texas.
Since their detainment, Edward Warner has been able to communicate with his wife only through brief telephone calls, often lasting just a few minutes. During these calls, Tania was forced to whisper to prevent border officials from overhearing.
"She says she’s traumatized … They’re not good," Edward Warner said. "She said the border patrol agents are just absolute pieces of shit."
Edward also reported that Ayla developed a rash during their time in detention.
Pressure to Self-Deport and Legal Status
Edward Warner stated that Tania was told she could be released if she agreed to "self-deport" to Canada, a proposition the family strongly rejects.
"We don’t want that at all," he said. "They are my family."
Edward insists that the detainment is unlawful, as Tania possesses valid paperwork allowing her to live and work in the US until 2030.
Tania’s cousin, Amber Sinclair, confirmed:
"She has a social security card. She has a functional visa. That’s good until 2030, so I don’t understand why they’re stopping her and detaining her."
The family is currently trying to raise funds to secure legal assistance.
Political and Community Response
Vicente Gonzalez, a Democratic congressman representing Texas’s 34th congressional district, stated in a tweet that his office is actively working toward the family’s release.
"Tania has a work permit and is part of the fabric of our Kingsville community; she nor her daughter Ayla, a 7-year-old with autism, should be in detention," Gonzalez said.
"We must bring them home and reunite yet another family being ripped apart by this Administration’s rogue immigration enforcement operations," he added.
Detention Centers and Conditions
Initially, Warner and Ayla were held at the Rio Grande Valley Central Processing Center in McAllen, Texas. Early on Friday, they were transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in South Texas.
The Dilley facility was originally opened during Barack Obama’s administration but was closed during Joe Biden’s presidency. It reopened in early 2025 to detain families together. The center has faced criticism from lawyers, human rights advocates, and detainees for inhumane conditions, including outbreaks of disease, lack of clean drinking water, and inadequate medical care, as reported by .
Edward Warner noted that since the move to Dilley, he and Ayla at least have mattresses to sleep on, whereas at Rio Grande they had to sleep on the floor.
Canadian Government and ICE Response
Global Affairs Canada, the federal ministry responsible for consular services and diplomatic relations, stated on Thursday that it is "aware of multiple cases of Canadians currently or previously in immigration-related detention in the US."
"Consular officials advocate for Canadian citizens abroad and raise concerns about justified and serious complaints of ill-treatment or discrimination with the local authorities but cannot exempt Canadians from local legal processes," a spokesperson said. "Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed."
When asked why Warner and Ayla were detained, an ICE spokesperson requested additional information to accurately locate the pair. provided the requested details, but ICE had not responded at the time of publication.
Legal Perspectives and Challenges
Heather Neufeld, an Ottawa-based immigration lawyer experienced with ICE detainee cases, stated that Canada should do everything possible to secure their release, which would likely require agreeing to repatriate them to Canada.
Neufeld also highlighted that ICE has been holding individuals for extended periods rather than deporting them promptly.
"There are people who have spent a year, two years, in ICE detention, rather than deporting them quickly," Neufeld said. "Getting people out has been incredibly difficult right now … in a lot of cases, the only way to get someone potentially out … is in federal courts – so nothing quick."
She added that detainees are sometimes transferred multiple times between detention centers.
