Esther Ngoy Tekele, a 24-year-old permanent U.S. resident and mother of a toddler, is being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after returning from a wedding in Canada, her family says.
Tekele, who emigrated from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has lived in Vermont for the past four years, was reportedly detained on July 6 while re-entering the U.S. at the Highgate Springs Port of Entry. She had been traveling with family when border officials took her into custody.
ICE has confirmed that Tekele is currently being held at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington, Vermont. Her brother, Coco Ngoy, told local outlet WPTZ that the family believes they were racially profiled at the border.
“I can say we were treated like slaves,” Ngoy said. “Even their body language—their nonverbal cues—were disrespectful. It was dehumanizing.”
He added that after roughly three hours of questioning, the rest of the group was allowed to leave—but Tekele was handed over to ICE.
No Criminal Record, Valid Green Card
According to her attorney, Tekele has a valid green card, no criminal record, and is the sole caregiver for both her 2-year-old son and her mother. She has traveled to Canada several times before without incident.
Despite this, court filings reveal she was unable to contact her lawyer for several days after her detention, and the official reason for her arrest remains unclear. Tekele claims her detention violates her constitutional rights under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments.
Family Pleads for Help
Ngoy has called for public support and intervention. “To the people who have the power to help—please, we’re asking you to step up,” he said.
The case has drawn renewed attention amid the Trump administration’s ramp-up of immigration enforcement. Earlier this year, former ICE Director Tom Homan, now serving as Trump’s border czar, said the agency would continue focusing on public safety threats.
Surge in Deportations
In the early months of President Trump’s new term, ICE has reportedly deported over 100,000 undocumented immigrants. Many of these removals were carried out under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely invoked law that has since drawn sharp legal and public scrutiny.
As of now, Esther Ngoy Tekele remains in custody, with advocates and legal experts questioning both the legality and motivations behind her detention.
