Canadian Mother and Daughter Detained by ICE in Texas
A Canadian mother and her seven-year-old daughter, who has autism, have been detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since Saturday, according to family members.
Relatives of Tania Warner and her daughter Ayla Lucas claim their detention was unlawful and are uncertain about the issue ICE found with their immigration documentation.
Tania Warner and Ayla Lucas are both Canadian citizens, with Warner originally from British Columbia. Canadian broadcaster CTV News reported that they are being held at the Rio Grande Valley Central processing centre in McAllen, Texas, a facility known for its notoriety.
Warner, who reportedly moved to the US five years ago, resides in Kingsville, Texas, with her husband, Edward Warner, a US citizen.
Detention Incident at Border Patrol Checkpoint
The family was returning home from a baby shower in Raymondville, Texas, on 14 March when they were stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in Sarita and asked to present documents, according to Edward Warner.
Edward presented his identification, while Tania showed her Texas driving licence, work visa, and her "actual visa," he told CTV.
"After that, they took her in, saying that they needed to fingerprint her to get more information, and she never came back out,"
he said.
ICE agents later took Ayla in for fingerprinting as well, and she also did not return.
Family Concerns and Legal Status
Amber Sinclair, Tania’s cousin, told that Tania had paid for professional assistance to ensure her documents were processed correctly.
"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,"
she said.
Sinclair, a dual Canadian-US citizen residing in Houston, noted that many ICE checkpoints have been established in Kingsville, which is approximately 120 miles from the Mexico border.
She expressed concern that Tania and Ayla could be deported, resulting in separation from Edward and the rest of the family, as well as the loss of Tania’s employment.
The family is currently working to raise funds to obtain legal representation, Sinclair added.
Documents provided by Edward Warner to CTV indicate that Tania is classified as a "Lawful Alien Allowed to Work." He described the situation as
"scary and really frustrating"given that they possess valid paperwork.
Detention Conditions at Rio Grande Valley Central
Edward Warner reported that through phone conversations with relatives, he has learned that Tania and Ayla are being held in poor conditions at the Rio Grande Valley Central facility.
"She’s having to use the mat from the floor to get a proper cover to keep warm. The food is terrible … it’s overcrowded, very loud, and they’re just very stressed out right now,"
he told CTV.
Government and Consular Responses
Global Affairs Canada, the federal ministry responsible for consular services and diplomatic relations, stated it was
"aware of multiple cases of Canadians currently or previously in immigration-related detention in the US."
A spokesperson added,
"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. Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed."
Edward Warner told CTV that the Canadian consulate in Texas informed him it could only assist if Tania and Ayla intended to return to Canada. He has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to secure legal counsel.
Expert Commentary on Detention Impact
Audrey Macklin, a professor of immigration and refugee law at the University of Toronto, emphasized that detaining children, even briefly, can be traumatic and have lasting effects.
She noted that while Canada’s influence is limited in such cases, its representatives should seek to visit detainees and provide legal assistance.
"It raises concerns for Canada … about its own obligations toward its nationals,"
she said.
Macklin highlighted that individuals living and working in the US who depend on documentation are particularly vulnerable to detention.
"This really just illustrates the cruelty of the US system. Basically, people are being kidnapped and thrown into detention in abusive, inhumane, unsafe conditions."
