A Canadian woman and her young daughter are being held in a Texas Immigration facility after being stopped at a US checkpoint. Tania Warner and her 7-year-old daughter Ayla were detained by federal agents on March 14 in Sarita, Texas, after they were stopped by federal agents while traveling with her U.S. citizen husband, Newsweek reported.
Warner’s husband, Edward, told The Canadian Press that agents took his wife to be fingerprinted after showing her identification. Soon after, his stepdaughter was taken in and never returned. The two were subsequently detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
They were initially held at a facility in Rio Grande before being transferred to the Dilley Detention Center, which has come under scrutiny in recent months for reported conditions.
officials from Department of Homeland Security Individuals who overstay their visas may be detained, the report said, adding that “a work permit does not confer legal status on someone.”
Warner said her daughter, who has autism, struggled in the detention environment due to stress and overstimulation. Edward Warner also described conditions as difficult, telling Global News that detainees were “sleeping on the floor… [foil] blanket to keep me warm,” and called the experience “extremely traumatic.”
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Who is Tanya Warner?
Tania Warner is a Canadian citizen from British Columbia who has lived in the United States for about five years, Newsweek reported. Her husband is American citizen Edward Warner, and the couple live in Texas.
Her husband said Warner had obtained a work permit, identifying her as a “legal alien,” although federal authorities have not confirmed details of her legal status.
She had previously applied for legal status but was rejected, and later tried to reapply through other channels, Newsweek reported.
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The case has also attracted political attention. Texas Rep. Vincent Gonzalez said his office was in contact with the family and urged their “immediate release” and called for Warner and her daughter to be reunited with their families.
Edward Warner is currently raising funds for legal representation as he continues to work to secure their release.
