Hispanic Father Detained by ICE: Wife Has Terminal Cancer and Family Pleads for Mercy (VIDEO: INTERVIEW)
Posted on 04/10/26 at 14:29
- Hispanic father detained by ICE
- Wife with stage four cancer
- Family alleges racial profiling
The community of Big Bear Lake, California, is in shock following the detention of Armando González, a man described by his loved ones as a devoted father and the primary caregiver for his wife, Erika, who is battling stage four brain cancer and is currently in hospice care. In an exclusive interview with MundoNow, Citlalli Montes and Bryan Montes, Armando’s daughter and son-in-law, shared the painful moment the family is experiencing after the arrest that occurred on March 31, 2026.
An unexpected arrest on the way to work
Armando, who has lived in California for more than 20 years and worked as a handyman and house cleaner, was intercepted by ICE agents while heading to work. According to Citlalli, that morning he had left early to buy fruit juices for his wife, who due to her condition no longer eats much.
«We realized it was my dad’s car… my sisters ran out of the house quickly, without shoes, without jackets, and we went to where we saw he had been stopped, and he was already gone. The truck was alone,» Citlalli Montes recalled about the moment they found the vehicle abandoned.
Racial profiling and lack of a warrant
The family claims that the case of this Hispanic father detained by ICE appears to be based on racial profiling and was carried out without a judicial warrant. Bryan Montes explained that, according to the information they received, Armando did not resist: «He simply told the truth and they detained him. He said he didn’t have documents, but he did not resist.»
Citlalli added that her father panicked when faced with about six officers. Because his truck doors were not locked, agents opened the door immediately after he rolled down the window and was questioned about his status.
The impact on fragile health: Hispanic father detained by ICE
Armando’s absence has had devastating consequences on his wife’s health. Erika depends emotionally and physically on her husband, and her condition has worsened significantly since the arrest.
«In the last few days she has been more in bed, she hasn’t been eating well… Sometimes when she wakes up and her mind is clearer, she asks for her phone to call him,» her daughter said, noting that after a brief call allowed with Armando, her mother’s mood improved slightly that day.
A race against time for the Hispanic father detained by ICE
Hispanic father detained by ICE. Ironically, the family was about to begin a legal process to regularize Armando’s status. His daughter Michelle turns 21 this year, the age required to help him legally. The family has also sought advice from several lawyers and maintains an active GoFundMe campaign to cover legal defense and his wife’s treatment.
«We are fighting every day for him, and every hour we are trying to find a way for his voice to be heard,» Citlalli Montes concluded in a direct message to her father. The family advises other immigrants to remain calm, learn the law, and remember that they have rights, such as keeping their vehicles locked. If you wish to support this family, you can click here.
