A 7-year-old boy and his mother were taken into custody by immigration authorities while traveling over the Thanksgiving break, according to the superintendent of Vermont’s Winooski School District.
The child, a student at JFK Elementary School in Winooski, did not return to class on Monday after the holiday. When school staff called his home to check on him, his father reported that he had been unable to reach his wife and son since Thursday, Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria said.
Why It Matters
The detention comes as federal immigration enforcement is under heightened scrutiny. The Trump administration has pledged what it describes as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history, focused on removing people living in the country without legal status. While these efforts are officially aimed at undocumented immigrants, there have been documented instances in which U.S. citizens and legal residents have been held, fueling anxiety in immigrant communities.
Officials have said the government intends to prioritize those with serious criminal records and the “worst of the worst.” Yet there have also been cases in which non-violent immigrants with no criminal history have been detained, prompting questions about how enforcement priorities are applied.
What the District Says Happened
According to the school district, the boy and his mother were traveling out of state to visit relatives when they were stopped by federal immigration agents after “making a wrong turn,” as Chavarria described it. Both were then taken into custody.
“We’ve had caregivers be detained and deported here in Winooski but we’ve never had one of our children be taken into custody by ICE,” Chavarria said.
The mother and child are currently being held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas. They are awaiting a hearing before an immigration judge, who will determine whether they can remain in the United States.
Winooski School District superintendent Wilmer Chavarria told Newsweek: “We have been in contact with the student’s mother to ensure that both she and her child are doing as well as possible under the circumstances. We have learned that the family has a court date scheduled for early January. Until that time, they will remain in the Texas detention facility.
“Members of the Winooski community are actively supporting the father as he works to secure legal representation. This support is focused on helping him stay in contact with his wife and son, preventing potential deportation, and ensuring that the mother and child are not separated from one another.
“Out of respect for the family’s privacy and safety, this is all the information we are able to share at this time.”
To assist the family, the district helped locate the detainees, connected them with legal support, and provided the boy’s father in Winooski with 1,000 from a private emergency fund, according to VTDigger.
Earlier this year, Winooski became the first school district in Vermont to adopt a “sanctuary schools” policy. The policy is designed to shield immigrant students and their families from federal immigration enforcement activities on or around school grounds, according to the district.
How Officials Are Responding
Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria said in a statement: “I strongly condemn the abduction of one of our 2nd graders and his mother by ICE while traveling during the school vacation. This is yet another example of the terror our families face simply by doing things other people take for granted-going to school, shopping for groceries, or just visiting family. I call for their immediate release and for the US government to bring basic humanity and due process back. Our 2nd grader should be in his classroom, not in a detention cell.”
An ICE spokesperson said in a statement: “They are now at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas, formerly called the South Texas Family Residential Center, pending a hearing before an immigration judge who will decide if they can remain in the U.S. If ordered removed to their home country, ICE will conduct the removal.”
What Happens Next
The boy and his mother will remain in federal custody while their case moves through immigration court. An immigration judge will ultimately decide whether they can stay in the United States or will be ordered removed to their home country.
