Where is Carlos? An American family caught in the immigration crackdown
For the past five months, Angela Della Valle has been chasing her husband across a sprawling network of detention centers, a journey that has taken her from the Caribbean to the pine forests of central Louisiana. Her husband, Carlos Della Valle, a Mexican national who has lived in the United States for nearly three decades, is currently being held at the Winn Correctional Center, a former state prison now used to house immigration detainees.
The ordeal began when Carlos turned himself in to immigration officials, a decision intended to resolve his legal status but one that has instead trapped the family in a labyrinth of transfers and uncertainty. Since his initial detention in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, he has been moved more than a dozen times, passing through facilities in Puerto Rico and various states before arriving in Louisiana.
For Angela, an American citizen and middle school teacher, the separation has been a test of endurance. She recently drove an hour through the Kisatchie National Forest to visit Carlos for a strictly monitored one-hour session. Despite the glass partitions and security protocols, she considers herself lucky compared to other families; she was able to take time off work and her son is already away at college, sparing him the daily sight of his father’s absence.
The situation has galvanized their community in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, a small borough where the Della Valles have deep roots. Residents have rallied behind the family, raising funds to help Angela cover travel costs and legal fees. More than 200 letters have been written to officials advocating for Carlos’s release, citing his long residency and clean record as reasons he should be returned to his family while his case is processed.
This case highlights the complexities of the current immigration crackdown, which has increasingly affected mixed-status families and long-term residents with no criminal history. While supporters argue that detaining individuals like Carlos separates families and drains community resources, immigration authorities maintain that strict enforcement and detention are necessary to uphold federal laws and manage the processing of foreign nationals.
As legal proceedings drag on, the question “Where is Carlos?” has become more than just a query about his physical location; it represents the uncertainty facing many American families caught in the widening net of immigration enforcement. For now, Angela continues to drive, write letters, and wait, hoping for a resolution that will bring her husband home.
miamiherald.com
