ICE Detains 8-Year-Old Haitian Boy: Naomi Blemur Speaks Out as Congress Demands Answers

Six California lawmakers demand a federal review as Haitian-American community leader Dr. Naomi Esther Blemur calls for the child’s safe reunification with his family.

By TELE PAM Newsroom | November 11, 2026

SAN DIEGO, California — The detention of an eight-year-old Haitian boy by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has prompted a congressional inquiry and calls for his reunification with family members.

The boy, a third-grade student at Fay Elementary School, was taken into federal custody during a scheduled immigration appointment in San Diego in early November. He had been living with his uncle and cousins since his father’s deportation to Mexico in March 2025.

Video recorded by an immigration court observer shows federal agents escorting the child from the building, raising concerns among lawmakers about his treatment.

The Department of Homeland Security says the uncle could not establish legal guardianship. ICE subsequently classified the boy as an unaccompanied minor and transferred him to the Office of Refugee Resettlement.

School officials have questioned the decision, noting that the uncle was listed as an authorized caregiver in the child’s school records.

Naomi Blemur Calls for Intervention

Haitian-American community leader Dr. Naomi Esther Blemur has appealed to California officials to intervene in the case.

In a letter to Senator Alex Padilla, Blemur urged authorities to confirm the child’s safety, ensure access to legal representation and family contact, and help reunite him with relatives.

Blemur also contacted Governor Gavin Newsom’s office and publicly thanked Senators Padilla and Adam Schiff for their attention to the matter.

“As a Haitian-American mother and community leader, I felt compelled to speak up for this eight year old boy,” she wrote on Facebook.

Congress Demands Answers

On November 10, Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff joined Representatives Juan Vargas, Sara Jacobs, Mike Levin and Scott Peters in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The lawmakers questioned the child’s detention, including reports that he was restrained by federal officers. They requested information about his whereabouts, his family’s access to him and efforts to secure his reunification.

Federal officials were asked to provide an update by December 1.

The Haitian Bridge Alliance has also criticized the detention and called for the child’s return to family custody.

Meanwhile, San Diego Unified School District arranged counseling support at Fay Elementary School following the incident.

Child’s Release Remains Uncertain

According to KPBS, the family’s attorney knows where the boy is being held, but the location has not been publicly disclosed at the family’s request.

As of November 11, federal authorities have not announced his release or a date for reunification.

The case remains under congressional scrutiny as Blemur and other Haitian-American advocates continue pressing for the child’s safe return to his family.