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Joel Camas, 16, had been without his mother for about four weeks after she voluntarily returned to Ecuador. His lawyer had hoped his age would shield him.
Oct. 24, 2025, 11:34 a.m. ET
A 16-year-old undocumented immigrant living without a parent in New York City was detained Thursday morning during a routine check-in with federal officials, as President Trump’s immigration crackdown has begun to target more minors who entered the United States illegally.
The immigrant, Joel Camas, had been without his mother for about four weeks after she voluntarily returned to Ecuador in hopes that her son could avoid being deported.
On Thursday morning Joel arrived for a routine appearance at 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, the New York City headquarters for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. With him was an entourage of eight adults that included Beth Baltimore, his lawyer, and Brad Lander, the city comptroller.
Because Joel has no legal guardian in the United States, he was turned away from that building, which has become the epicenter of adult migrant detentions in New York, and directed to a different federal building. There, employees said they were confused by his arrival, and asked the group to wait; hours later, Joel was abruptly escorted behind closed doors with Ms. Baltimore, then taken from her.
From a room that is inaccessible to the public, Ms. Baltimore texted Mr. Lander:
“Detaining him”
Mr. Lander gasped and doubled over, distraught by the news.
“Oh, no, no,” he said as his voice weakened.
Ms. Baltimore then emerged, tears welling in her eyes.
“I had no idea this was going to happen,” she said. “I was too hopeful.”
