Who is Ophelia Torres? Chicago teen who fought for father’s release from ICE detention dies of cancer

Ofelia Torres, a 16-year-old Chicago student who publicly called for her father’s release from immigration detention while battling a rare cancer, has died, NBC News reports. Ophelia died Friday of stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer that affects soft tissue. She was diagnosed in December 2024 and underwent treatment for several months.A few months ago, her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, attracted attention online when he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 18, 2025. At the time, Ophelia was receiving care in the hospital and spending time with her family.Shortly after his arrest, she posted a video on Instagram calling for his release and speaking out about families facing similar situations. In the video, she describes her father as a devoted parent.“My father, like many others, was a hard-working man who got up early in the morning and went to work without complaint, thinking about his family,” Ophelia said in the video. She added, “I think it’s so unfair that hard-working immigrant families are being targeted just because they weren’t born here.”The video includes photos of her father with his family as well as photos of Ophelia during her treatment in the hospital.Torres Maldonado was released from ICE custody about two weeks later after posting $2,000 bail. The judge considered his daughter’s medical condition during the hearing before granting the release, according to a family spokesman.In an earlier statement about his arrest, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said: “He has been charged multiple times with driving without insurance, driving without a valid driver’s license and speeding. During his arrest, he failed to comply with police instructions and attempted to drive away and reverse into a government vehicle. “Shortly before Ophelia died, a Chicago judge ruled that her father was eligible to have his deportation quashed, arguing that his deportation would have a negative impact on his U.S. citizen children. A family representative said the decision could provide a path to permanent residency and eventually citizenship.Ophelia, a junior at Chicago’s Lakeview High School, attended her immigration hearing via Zoom three days before her death.Her father’s attorney, Kalman Resnick, said: “Ophelia acted heroically in the face of ICE detention and the threat of deportation against her father. We mourn Ophelia’s passing and hope she will serve as an example to all of us of how to be brave and fight for justice until the end of her life.”