Bogotá – A Colombian congresswoman is publicly appealing for the release of her son, Rafael Alfonso Vergara, who has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 18 days, sparking a debate about immigration enforcement and the treatment of individuals awaiting legal proceedings. Ángela María Vergara, a member of Colombia’s Conservative Party, shared a tearful video plea on social media, detailing her son’s detention and calling for urgent intervention from both the Colombian and U.S. Governments.
Vergara stated that her son, 22, has a valid perform permit, a Social Security number, and was scheduled for an asylum hearing in 2028. Despite his legal status and lack of a criminal record, he is reportedly being held in “inhumane conditions,” chained and imprisoned while awaiting resolution of his case. The congresswoman’s public appeal comes after weeks of silence, she explained, due to her initial trust in the U.S. Justice system.
“A young man who doesn’t even have a traffic violation, but who, like many Colombians, is living a martyrdom, who has not been able to return to his country, who needs the urgent intervention of the State,” Vergara said in the video, which has circulated widely on social media. “That is why today, as a mother, I ask for your help.”
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of migrant detention practices under the current U.S. Administration. According to a CBS News report based on a Department of Homeland Security document, approximately six out of seven migrants detained by ICE in the first year of President Donald Trump’s current term had no history of violent criminal activity (CBS News). Nearly four in ten detainees had no criminal record at all, with some facing only civil immigration violations.
Vergara’s plea for her son’s release is particularly poignant given her past political alignment. Reports indicate that the Colombian Conservative Party celebrated Donald Trump’s election to the White House in November 2024 (De Último Minuto). This has led to scrutiny and commentary on social media, with some pointing to a perceived hypocrisy in her current situation.
The congresswoman shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) explaining her decision to head public, stating, “I raise my voice from a human perspective for the families who suffer without help; for Colombians who today are treated as criminals without being so. Men and women who have been deprived of their freedom for months, waiting for a flight to return home or an intervention by the Colombian State that will restore their hope.”
#EnDesarrollo La representante a la Cámara por Bolívar Ángela Vergara denunció que su hijo lleva 18 días detenido por el ICE en Estados Unidos en “condiciones inhumanas”, a pesar de haber ingresado legalmente al país y en espera de audiencia de asilo. La congresista del Partido… pic.twitter.com/cuyaW4I56B
— BluRadio Colombia (@BluRadioCo) February 13, 2026
A recent investigation by the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) documented an average of 6,000 Latin American migrants without criminal records entering U.S. Detention centers each month between February and September 2025.
As of February 16, 2026, ICE has not released a public statement regarding Rafael Alfonso Vergara’s detention. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the case, but Vergara has requested their urgent intervention, along with that of the Colombian government, to secure her son’s release and ensure the protection of other Colombian nationals facing similar circumstances.
The situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected as the Colombian government responds to Vergara’s plea and as ICE potentially addresses the allegations of inhumane conditions. The case highlights the complex realities faced by migrants navigating the U.S. Legal system and the potential for prolonged detention even for those with pending asylum claims and no criminal history.
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