(PORTLAND, MAINE) A mother from Portland, Maine, and her three teenage children remain separated in U.S. immigration detention more than a week after they were taken into custody, a case that has alarmed local leaders and prompted calls for answers about how families are treated in the immigration system.
As of late November 2025, the family, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is still held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after being stopped on November 12, 2025, at the Champlain Port of Entry on the border between the 🇺🇸 United States and 🇨🇦 Canada. They had tried to seek asylum in Canada, but Canadian officials rejected their claim and sent them back to U.S. authorities, who then placed them in detention.
Family background and current custody
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the family first entered the United States without authorization in 2022. An immigration judge ordered their deportation in February 2025, and their appeal was dismissed in October 2025, leaving that removal order in place when they traveled to the border crossing in New York this month.
The mother, Carine Balenda Mbizi, is currently held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, a large ICE-operated facility that holds parents and children. Her three teenage children — Joel, Estafania, and older sister Olivia Andre — were also taken into ICE custody.
As of November 24, 2025, federal officials have not confirmed whether the siblings are detained together or whether they have been sent to different locations. ICE has not released detailed information about the family’s current conditions.
Quick reference: family details
| Person | Relationship | Known location (as of Nov 24, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Carine Balenda Mbizi | Mother | South Texas Family Residential Center, Dilley, Texas |
| Joel | Son (teenager) | Held by ICE — location unconfirmed |
| Estafania | Daughter (teenager) | Held by ICE — location unconfirmed |
| Olivia Andre | Daughter (older teen) | Held by ICE — location unconfirmed |
Local reaction and community impact
People who know the family say the sudden detention has shaken their daily life in Portland, Maine. The children were part of the public school system and active in a local Jehovah’s Witnesses congregation.
Portland Public Schools released a statement expressing concern about the trauma caused by the separation and pledged to support affected students. Teachers and classmates have been left uncertain about when — or if — the teenagers will return.
Faith community members say the detention has weighed heavily on the congregation where the family worshipped. Friends describe them as deeply rooted in church life and say news of the arrest spread quickly, prompting worry about both the legal future and the family’s emotional health.
Community support and fundraising
Residents have tried to step in to help. A GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $27,000 to help with legal costs and other needs linked to the family’s fight to stay in the country. Organizers say the donations reflect strong community feeling about keeping the family together and allowing them to make their case.
Supporters in Portland are also:
– Sharing updates about the GoFundMe effort
– Contacting elected officials
– Attending community meetings focused on the case
Calls for transparency and concerns from officials
The office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree has said that ICE has not provided clear information about where the children are being held or whether the family can stay in contact while in custody. That lack of detail has deepened worries among local residents and advocacy groups.
Local leaders and advocates have argued for:
– More transparency and accountability from ICE
– Clear information about where children are held
– Assurance that families are able to maintain contact
They warn that prolonged separation in detention can cause deep emotional and psychological harm, especially for teenagers who have already experienced conflict and displacement.
“The silence has added to a sense of helplessness,” say school officials, church leaders, and neighbors who are trying to support classmates and friends left behind in Portland.
Legal timeline and status
The key legal decisions were issued months before the family’s arrest at the border crossing:
1. 2022 — Family first entered the U.S. without authorization (per CBP).
2. February 2025 — Immigration judge ordered deportation.
3. October 2025 — Appeal dismissed, leaving the removal order in place.
4. November 12, 2025 — Stopped at Champlain Port of Entry after Canada rejected their asylum claim and returned them to U.S. custody.
5. Late November 2025 — Family held in ICE custody; mother in Dilley, Texas; children’s locations unconfirmed.
Because the deportation order and appeal dismissal preceded the November border crossing, advocates say the family had technically reached the end of their regular immigration court process before seeking protection in Canada.
System questions and what’s unknown
Federal agencies have not publicly explained:
– What options, if any, remain for the family within the immigration system
– How long they might remain in detention at the South Texas Family Residential Center or at the unknown locations where the children may be held
– Whether or when mother and children might be reunited, even inside detention
Advocates stress that beyond legal terms and court dates, three teenagers are facing the shock of detention and possible separation from each other. The uncertainty about whether Joel, Estafania, and Olivia Andre are held together is a central concern for supporters who know the family had settled into school and religious life in Portland.
Resources and next steps for advocates
While ICE has not released family-specific details, the agency provides general information about detention and facility locations on its official website, including a public detention facilities listing on ICE.gov. Lawyers and advocates often consult those resources when trying to locate clients or relatives who have been moved across state lines.
For now, community members in Portland continue to:
– Rely on each other for updates and support
– Push elected officials for information
– Maintain public pressure in hopes of clarifying where the children are and whether they are safe
Ongoing concerns
As of November 24, 2025, there is no public indication that ICE plans to move Carine Balenda Mbizi out of the South Texas Family Residential Center or to reunite her with her children at that facility. There is also no clear public timeline for any final decision on the family’s immigration status.
For now, a mother sits in detention in Texas, her children held somewhere else in the system, while a city more than two thousand miles away watches, waits, and keeps asking when this separation will end.
A Congolese mother and her three teenagers remain separated in ICE custody after Canada denied their asylum request and returned them at the Champlain Port of Entry on Nov. 12, 2025. The mother is detained in Dilley, Texas; the children’s locations are unconfirmed. Portland officials, schools and faith groups demand transparency and legal support. Community fundraising has raised over $27,000, and advocates press for reunification and clear information from federal agencies.
