PORTLAND, Ore. — A North Portland family is preparing for the deportation of their father, arrested last week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Loved ones say they are left in fear and confusion as they await his scheduled removal Thursday morning.
Daughter Speaks Out
Lizbeth Arriola Ramirez, the daughter of the man she identified as Caballero, said the family has been given few answers from immigration officials.
“All of us are scared because we don’t know where he’s going,” Ramirez said. “We don’t know where to call; we don’t know how to reach him.”
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While officials did not confirm his destination, the family believes Caballero will be deported to Mexico, a place they fear may not be safe for him.
Arrest in North Portland
According to Ramirez, ICE agents arrested Caballero on September 16 as he was on his way to work. She said agents broke his car window during the arrest.
On Wednesday, Ramirez said her father called from the ICE facility in Tacoma, Washington, informing the family he would be deported the next morning.
The arrest followed a recent wave of ICE activity in the area. Just days earlier, other North Portland families reported fathers being taken into custody in similar operations.
Family Struggles to Cope
Ramirez described the emotional toll on her family. “All my siblings were crying, we’re trying to be strong for my dad but it’s really hard,” she said. “There’s only so much that can be done.”
She added that the family is speaking out in hopes that sharing their father’s story might help delay or stop the deportation.
Caballero came to the U.S. from Mexico more than 20 years ago and, according to Ramirez, has lived undocumented ever since. She believes the only marks on his record are traffic violations.
Concerns Over Health and Treatment
Beyond the legal fight, the family is also concerned about Caballero’s health. Ramirez said he underwent elbow surgery three weeks ago and still had stitches at the time of his arrest. She alleged that agents re-injured him while detaining him.
“We will be getting justice regardless if he does get deported or not,” she said. “Because how they took him is not the way that they should have taken him.”
Unanswered Questions
Despite having legal representation, Ramirez said immigration officials have not allowed her father to speak freely with his attorney. That lack of access has deepened the family’s frustration.
As of Wednesday night, ICE had not responded to requests for comment.
For Ramirez and her siblings, the uncertainty remains overwhelming. With deportation scheduled within hours, the family can only wait — and hope for a last-minute reprieve.
