Grace Stephanie Calero Cabanilla, 39, and her daughter, Giulianna Mía Carriel Calero, 19, were involved in a car crash in Poinciana, Florida, on August 20, according to arrest reports reviewed by multiple news outlets. Family members reported that the two women 'almost died' after their car was struck by another vehicle and flipped over four times.
Following the crash, both were transported to a local hospital for treatment. While they were recovering, ICE agents arrived at the medical facility and arrested them. The exact charges or immigration status that led to the arrests have not been detailed in publicly available reports, but the arrests were confirmed by ICE as enforcement actions related to immigration violations.
The family has expressed shock and distress, stating that the women were in no condition to be taken into custody. The incident has also drawn criticism from immigrant advocacy groups, who argue that arresting individuals at hospitals undermines trust in medical institutions and discourages undocumented immigrants from seeking emergency care.
ICE has not commented on the specific circumstances of the arrests, but agency policy generally permits enforcement actions at hospitals in certain circumstances, particularly when individuals are deemed to pose a threat or when the agency has specific intelligence about their location. However, critics argue that such practices are inhumane and violate widely recognized standards that treat hospitals as sensitive locations.
The case is the latest in a series of controversial ICE arrests at medical facilities across the United States, reigniting debates over the balance between immigration enforcement and basic human rights. The two women remain in federal custody, and their legal proceedings are expected to begin soon.