This family of five was torn apart by ICE raids: ‘Why did they take my dad away?’

Like many other families coping with a loved one’s detention, Alma Ramirez and her children have faced financial struggles and mental health tolls A version of this story was originally published in La Opinión. Read the story in Spanish here. Every night, for months, as they settled into bed at their home in Watts, California, seven-year-old José, named after his father, would look over to his mother, Alma Ramirez, and ask her one question: Continue reading...

Janette Villafana · Fri, Sep 25, 2026, 7:00 AM
California | The Guardian

This family of five was torn apart by ICE raids: ‘Why did they take my dad away?’

Like many other families coping with a loved one’s detention, Alma Ramirez and her children have faced financial struggles and mental health tolls

A version of this story was originally published in La Opinión. Read the story in Spanish here.

Every night, for months, as they settled into bed at their home in Watts, California, seven-year-old José, named after his father, would look over to his mother, Alma Ramirez, and ask her one question:

This page shows an excerpt; reporting belongs to the original publisher. Some images or embeds may be omitted compared with the live article.