Ava and Sam’s morning routine took a sinister turn on Halloween. An urgent warning from their neighbor sent them scurrying to safety as ICE loomed over their lives. The terror wasn’t just in the raids but in the constant paranoia that gripped them. Ava felt like she was living under an unseen eye, ever vigilant for any sign of ICE presence.

The random and performative nature of the raids left no room for certainty. From a midnight helicopter operation to daytime arrests at daycare centers, it seemed no one was safe. Silverio Villegas González’s tragic death only added to the fear. The family found themselves in a relentless cycle of uncertainty as they tried to protect their young children and maintain some semblance of normalcy.

The decision to stay or go was agonizing for Ava and Sam. They could not risk crossing the border alone, nor could they afford another coyote journey. In Mexico, danger lurked around every corner, from drug cartels to corrupt police. One fateful call put Ava’s world on edge as her brother scrambled to save his children from express kidnapping.

With a glimmer of hope, Ava applied for Temporary Protected Status, but the process was fraught with delays and uncertainty. The interview in El Paso was a harrowing experience—her DNA collected, passport confiscated. Six months later, they were still living in limbo, their lives forever changed by the specter of ICE.