“It’s obviously very hard for the moment, for the family,” Cesar Saavedra said, describing the detention of his girlfriend and her mother by federal immigration authorities last week.
Maria Flores Garcia, a University of Maryland freshman who graduated from Parkdale High School, was taken into custody alongside her mother after reporting for a scheduled check-in Baltimore, Fox 5 DC reported. The university learned of the detention off campus on Monday, according to Maryland Today, prompting campus officials to connect the student’s loved ones with members of Maryland’s congressional delegation.
Flores Garcia attends UMD on a scholarship to study public health. During her May 2026 valedictorian speech, she spoke about determination, perseverance and her journey to graduation, recalling the challenge of relying on her father to help translate her assignments, Fox 5 DC reported.
The Department of Homeland Security said that Flores Garcia entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown time and was arrested in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas in December 2016. DHS said that she began removal proceedings before being released into the country, and an immigration judge issued a final order of removal in February 2021.
University officials said that they are unable to provide additional details due to federal privacy laws and respect for the family. The university has directed students and staff to support services, including the Dean of Students Office, the Thrive Center, Student Legal Aid, and the International Students and Scholars office.
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General provides resources for the state’s immigrant community, including guidance on interacting with federal law enforcement agencies available through the OAG Know Your Rights resource.
“My girlfriend is a very hardworking and intelligent young woman,” Saavedra said in an online fundraiser, noting that Flores Garcia and her mother are from El Salvador.
Related reading
New Orleans East Residents Support a Potential City Hall Annex
People gathered at a church in New Orleans East on Tuesday night to voice their support for a...
Jefferson County Plans Development Near YSU Steubenville Campus
Jefferson County leaders are advancing development plans near Youngstown State University’s Steubenville campus to attract young residents and...
Four Macalester Women’s Soccer Players Earn MIAC Honors
Four Macalester College women's soccer players earned year-end conference recognition as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced its...
DDOT Reviews Video of Two Horses Walking Onto a Detroit Bus
A viral video showing two saddled horses walking onto a Detroit Department of Transportation (DDOT) bus has been...