Canadian mother and daughter 'traumatized' in ICE custody, husband says

A Canadian woman and her seven-year-old daughter with autism have been held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly a week, then transferred to a notorious detention centre and told to 'self-deport', their husband and father said. Tania Warner and her daughter Ayla Luca, originally from British Columbia, moved to the US five years ago when Warner married a US citizen.

The family lives in Kingsville, Texas, and were driving home from a baby shower in Raymondville on 14 March when they were stopped at a border patrol checkpoint in Sarita. Edward Warner said he has been able to speak to his wife only in short telephone calls that often last no more than a few minutes.

'She says she’s traumatized … They’re not good,' he said, adding that his wife was forced to whisper so officials could not overhear. Warner said Ayla developed a rash while in detention and that Tania was told she could be released if she agreed to 'self-deport'.

United States, Kingsville, Texas

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