Sixteen-year-old Ofelia Torres, who publicly pleaded for her father's release from ICE custody, has passed away after battling a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old girl from Chicago, Illinois, has died after a long struggle with stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects soft tissues. Her death comes months after she publicly advocated for the release of her father, Rubén Torres Maldonado, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while Ofelia was hospitalized. The family's plight has drawn attention to their situation, highlighting the emotional and physical struggles faced by those in similar circumstances.
Rubén Torres Maldonado was arrested on October 18, 2025, under allegations related to traffic violations and failure to comply with instructions from law enforcement. At the time of his arrest, his daughter was already battling cancer, a fact that adds a heartbreaking layer to their family’s circumstances. Ofelia’s public appeal for her father’s release, conveyed through social media, resonated with many, bringing awareness to the challenges faced by immigrant families in the U.S. caught in the crossfire of the immigration enforcement system.
The loss of Ofelia Torres not only signifies a tragic personal story but also serves to underline the human impacts of immigration policy and enforcement. Her passing may ignite conversations about the consequences faced by families of those detained, urging society to consider the moral implications of such policies and the emotional toll they take on innocent lives, particularly when children are involved in the narrative.
