Sister's desperate 7 a.m. call

Wisline Platel was arrested by ICE on August 19 at a gas station in Odenton, Maryland after an overnight shift at a produce-packing facility. Her sister Samara Bruno heard her yell "They are taking me!" before the line went dead.

“"They are taking me! They are taking me!"”

She came legally through Biden's program

Platel fled gang violence in Haiti and came to the US in July 2024 through the humanitarian parole program for Haitian, Cuban, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan nationals. She passed background checks and had a US financial sponsor.

Trump canceled the program in March

The Trump administration terminated the humanitarian parole program in March 2025 and told recipients to "self-deport immediately." The program had covered more than 200,000 Haitians.

She applied for asylum in March

After her parole was terminated, Platel filed for asylum in March 2025. An asylum officer denied her application in June, and her case was transferred to immigration court in Hyattsville for a full hearing.

Arrested without a hearing scheduled

Platel was detained by ICE in August, but her court date vanished from the online portal. Her attorney fears the government is fast-tracking her deportation without putting her before a judge.

Part of aggressive enforcement surge

Platel's arrest came during a two-week Department of Homeland Security surge targeting Maryland and Virginia. More than 1,300 people were detained during routine commutes, outside workplaces and on public roadways.

Now held in Virginia detention facility

Platel is being held at Caroline Detention Facility in Virginia, 2,000 miles from her Maryland home. She speaks with her sister on monitored phone calls but cannot discuss her situation freely.

Separated from her young son

Platel left her school-aged son in Haiti when she fled gang violence. She missed his birthday while detained and the family has not told him his mother is in ICE custody.

Government claims she wasn't admitted

The Department of Homeland Security argues that because Platel received humanitarian parole, she was never formally "admitted" to the country and remains legally an "applicant for admission." They claim unadmitted noncitizens have diminished liberty interests.

Attorney challenges detention as unconstitutional

Platel's attorney Jorge Artieda filed a habeas petition arguing her detention without a hearing violates her Fifth Amendment right to due process. He notes other federal judges have released noncitizens in nearly identical circumstances.

“"Ms. Platel came here with the government's written permission, applied for asylum, and appeared when told."”

Legal advocates call it expedited removal

We Are CASA and other civil rights organizations are suing to challenge what they call expedited removal of humanitarian parolees. They argue the Trump administration is applying draconian procedures to deport people without court proceedings.

“"It's just a drastic shift in policy that applies draconian procedures to people who are paroled into the U.S."”

Haitian community living in fear

Bruno said relatives and members of Maryland's Haitian community are terrified to leave their homes for work or even check their mailboxes. Many fear they could be arrested like Platel.

Family fractured by detention

Bruno is juggling fundraising for legal bills, navigating the immigration system and caring for her 10-month-old son. Platel used to help with childcare before her arrest.

“"Since she was detained, there has been a huge emptiness in our family."”

Warrantless arrests under legal challenge

Civil rights organizations filed a lawsuit challenging ICE agents' warrantless arrests based on racial profiling. A similar case in D.C. last year resulted in temporary restrictions on warrantless arrests.

ICE mandate to fill detention quotas

Legal advocates say ICE has made clear it is under a mandate to fill detention and deportation quotas. The agency continues to receive regular reports of arrests and detentions throughout Maryland.

“"ICE has made it clear that they are under a mandate to fill their quotas on detaining and deporting people."”