A Torrance Elementary School fourth grader, alongside his 50-year-old father, have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — and will soon be deported.
The 9-year-old Martir Garcia Lara and his father, Martir Garcia-Banegas, were taken into custody at the Enforcement and Removal Operations Los Angeles field office on Thursday, May 29, according to an ICE spokesperson.
Garcia Lara and his father, ICE said, entered the U.S. illegally in 2021.
“An immigration judge ordered the family unit removed to Honduras on Sept. 1, 2022. Garcia appealed the decision to the Board of Immigration Appeals and on Aug. 11, 2023, the BIA dismissed the appeal,” ICE said. “They exhausted due process and have no legal remedies left to pursue.”
The pair will be held in custody for the foreseeable future, ICE said — until they’re deported to Honduras.
The news of the father and son’s arrest, however, sparked outrage across the state after it was originally reported by KTLA. Since last week, the Torrance Unified School District, the city of Torrance and other local officials have responded to the ICE action.
“As a community, we are deeply concerned when any child in our city faces uncertainty and fear,” Torrance Mayor George Chen said in a Saturday, June 7, statement. “Every child deserves to feel safe and supported, and we are committed to working within our authority to ensure our community remains a place where all families can thrive knowing that immigration enforcement is a federal matter.”
Garcia Lara’s arrest came shortly before widespread ICE raids across Los Angeles County, resulting in large protests across the region.
Following ICE clashes with protestors in Paramount on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced he would deploy around 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles.
Trump’s decision to federalize the National Guard has been met with sharp criticism — and, as of Monday, June 9, has been challenged in court by Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Bob Bonta as illegal and unwarranted.
The news also prompted an even larger response from protestors, with more than 1,000 people shutting down the 101 Freeway on Saturday. Video on social media showed California National Guard troops with riot shields pushing protestors into the streets, as well as tear gas being deployed and less-than-lethal rounds exploding in the roadway.
Political leaders from across California also held a press conference on Monday, decrying Trump’s actions in Los Angeles.
“This weekend, we witnessed deeply disturbing scenes across Los Angeles following a series of ICE raids, including broad sweeps in the fashion district of Downtown Los Angeles, in Paramount — and even the arrest of a 9-year-old at an elementary school in Torrance,” Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur said Monday. “Let me be clear: This is not normal. This is not right. This is not who we are as a country, and it certainly is not who we are as Californians.”
Torrance, the city said in its Friday statement, is in contact with federal officials, including local Democratic Reps. Maxine Water and Ted Lieu, regarding Garcia Lara’s situation.
“Both congressional offices are actively working with the family to better understand the situation and to advocate for their well-being,” Torrance said. “The city of Torrance stands with our residents in seeking clarity and fairness. We will continue to monitor the situation and support efforts to ensure the rights of all members of our community — especially our children — are respected and protected.”
The school district echoed a similar sentiment in its statement about the situation, urging those concerned about Garcia Lara and his father to contact their federal representatives.
“It is our responsibility as a district to support the families of every student and connect them to resources and assistance for their continued education and healthy well-being, if, and when, a family requests it,” TUSD said. “Until that time, we respect the rights and privacy of all our families.”
TUSD also said they would provide updates to the community should additional information about the situation becomes publicly available.