A Soldotna mother and her three children, including two minors, were taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week, prompting concern from religious leaders, immigration advocates, and state lawmakers over the handling of the case.
The family, identified as Sonia Espinosa Arriaga and her children ages 5, 16, and 18, were reportedly detained Tuesday morning after arriving at their home in Soldotna. According to family attorney Lara Nations, the mother and two minors were held at an Anchorage hotel by immigration agents and were “not free to leave” before being flown out of Alaska and deported to Mexico overnight, the children and Arriaga’s husband said.
Arriaga and her children arrived in the United States in 2023 and were reportedly involved in ongoing immigration proceedings, including recent court paperwork the family and their attorneys were working to address. The family’s attorney had filed a habeas corpus petition seeking their release, citing concerns about detention conditions and due process.
Officials confirmed that the couple’s 18-year-old son was taken into custody by the Alaska Department of Corrections and was being held at the Anchorage Correctional Center; the department noted it does not detain children.
Religious leaders in Anchorage held a press conference Tuesday decrying the family’s detention and sharing concerns about immigration enforcement practices affecting families, particularly when minors are involved.
In response to the incident, Andrew Gray, chair of the Alaska House Judiciary Committee, announced a legislative hearing scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23, where immigration attorneys and representatives from ICE and the Department of Homeland Security will be invited to provide information on federal detention of minors in Alaska.
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The case has reignited public discussion about immigration enforcement in the state, with advocates urging transparency and consideration for family circumstances and legal rights. Alaska’s News Source reached out to ICE for comment but had not received a response as of publication.
