In a startling incident, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended an Ecuadorian mother and her teenage daughter in a Florida hospital's emergency room on Friday. The pair had been receiving medical treatment following a harrowing car accident, as reported by Ecuadorian outlet Teleamazonas.
Grace Calero, 39, and her 19-year-old daughter, Giulianna Carriel, were driving on a Florida highway when another vehicle lost control, veered into their lane, and collided with their car, causing it to overturn.
Rushed to HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital, Grace was diagnosed with neck injuries and fitted with a cervical collar, while Giulianna suffered from severe emotional distress due to the traumatic experience.
It was in the emergency room that ICE agents entered and arrested them. Grace's sister, Gia Calero, confirmed that both women were undergoing medical care at the time of their detention.
The arrest was captured on video and widely circulated: the footage shows the women handcuffed and escorted out of the medical facility, under the watchful eyes of other patients and hospital staff.
This incident is a direct consequence of the Trump administration's immigration policy, which in late January 2025, revoked the federal "sensitive locations" directive. This change ended the long-standing prohibition on ICE arrests in hospitals, churches, and schools.
Since then, ICE agents have had access to public areas of medical centers—lobbies, hallways, and waiting rooms—without a warrant.
Florida has become one of the most active states for such operations. Between January 2025 and March 2026, nearly 39,000 arrests were recorded in the state, according to data from the Associated Press cited by WLRN radio.
Nationwide, ICE set a record in June 2026 with over 39,500 detentions in a single month, averaging around 2,000 arrests daily.
The scope of these operations has been steadily expanding. Recently, ICE has intensified arrests at airports across the country, causing concern among immigrant communities.
A survey released this month highlighted a growing public debate over whether the agency is using excessive force in its operations. This comes amid reports of a 37% increase in the use of force at detention centers during 2025.
The case of Grace Calero and Giulianna Carriel adds to a series of ICE arrests involving Ecuadorian nationals that have attracted media attention in 2026, including the case of Chantal Morales, who was released following her arrest.
The Ecuadorian community in the United States has been notably affected by the intensification of immigration enforcement over the past year and a half.
The detention of a mother with neck injuries and her daughter in a state of nervous breakdown, within a hospital and in front of healthcare workers, has sparked outrage both in Ecuador and among migrant rights organizations.
Impact of ICE Arrests in Hospitals and Public Spaces
Why did ICE arrest the mother and daughter in the hospital?
ICE arrested Grace Calero and Giulianna Carriel in the hospital as part of a broader immigration enforcement policy that allows arrests in public spaces like hospitals, following the revocation of the "sensitive locations" policy by the Trump administration in January 2025.
How have ICE's policies changed regarding arrests in hospitals?
ICE's policies have shifted to permit arrests in hospitals, churches, and schools after the removal of the "sensitive locations" directive, which previously prohibited such actions in these locations.
What is the public reaction to ICE's increased presence in medical facilities?
The public reaction has been one of concern and debate, as many question whether ICE is using excessive force, especially with reported increases in force at detention centers and the growing number of arrests in sensitive areas like hospitals.