The relatives of a Montreal woman detained by ICE

They penalize individuals without cause': The family of a Canadian woman held by ICE appeals for assistance in bringing her back home

ICE has apprehended at least 50 Canadians since the Trump administration initiated an immigration crackdown. Heather Wright reports.
The relatives of a Montreal woman who has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the United States are voicing their concerns as they urgently seek ways to secure her release.

Paula Callejas has been in ICE custody since early April, and her family reports that they have expended thousands of dollars on legal fees in an effort to obtain her freedom, yet their attempts have been unsuccessful thus far.

"This situation is truly dreadful for her," stated her mother, Maria Estella Cano, who was present during her daughter's arrest. "They penalize individuals without cause."

Callejas had been traveling to the U.S. for several years to expand her swimsuit business. She had acquired properties in Florida, and a visa application was in progress when she was detained following an incident with her then-boyfriend, according to her family.

Her mother claims that the couple had an argument during which Callejas was slapped and pushed to the ground. Her then-boyfriend took her phone, which she was attempting to retrieve in order to contact the police when she scratched his arm, as per her family's account.

He instead contacted the police, leading to her arrest and a misdemeanor charge.

Since that time, Callejas has been transferred to various detention centers, where her family asserts that she is occasionally confined in a cell with six other individuals. They also report that a woman passed away while she was at a facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

Currently, she is in Arizona, where her anxiety medication has been confiscated, according to her family, who are struggling to obtain basic information regarding her case.

CTV News