CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago teenager who became a vocal advocate for her father's release after he was detained by immigration authorities last fall has tragically died following a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, aged 16, passed away on Friday from stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, as confirmed by her family in a statement. Funeral services will be held privately.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The young girl was diagnosed in December 2024 with this severe type of soft tissue cancer, which required intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Despite her health struggles, Ofelia remained actively involved in her father's immigration case, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
Immigration Ruling and Family Impact
Just three days before Ofelia's death, an immigration judge in Chicago made a significant ruling. The judge determined that her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, was conditionally eligible for "cancellation of removal." This decision was based on the severe hardships his deportation would impose on his children, who are U.S. citizens born in the United States. According to a statement from Torres Maldonado's attorney, this ruling opens a pathway for him to become a lawful permanent resident and eventually pursue U.S. citizenship.
Ofelia participated in the hearing via Zoom last week, showcasing her unwavering support. Her attorney, Kalman Resnick, praised her courage, stating, "Ofelia was heroic and brave in the face of ICE’s detention and threatened deportation of her father. We mourn Ofelia’s passing, and we hope that she will serve as a model for us all for how to be courageous and to fight for what’s right to our last breaths."
Father's Detention and Legal Battle
Torres Maldonado, a painter and home renovator, was detained on October 18 at a Home Depot store in suburban Chicago. This arrest occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz," a major immigration crackdown that began in early September. His attorneys argued that his detention was illegal and violated his due process rights, leading a judge to order a bond hearing in October.
Subsequently, a judge allowed his release on a $2,000 bond, citing his lack of criminal history. Lawyers noted that Torres Maldonado entered the U.S. in 2003 and lives with his partner, Sandibell Hidalgo, and their younger son. The Department of Homeland Security had accused him of living illegally in the country for years and cited driving offenses, such as driving without a valid license, insurance, and speeding.
Ofelia's Advocacy and Health Struggles
While undergoing cancer treatment, Ofelia appeared in a video on a GoFundMe page set up for her family in October. In the emotional footage, she expressed, "My dad, like many other fathers, is a hard-working person who wakes up early in the morning and goes to work without complaining, thinking about his family. I find it so unfair that hardworking immigrant families are being targeted just because they were not born here."
In a wheelchair, she attended a hearing for her father in October. Her attorneys informed the judge that she had been released from the hospital just a day before her father's arrest to spend time with family and friends. They also highlighted that the stress and disruption from the situation had forced Ofelia to pause her cancer treatments, exacerbating her condition.
This heartbreaking story underscores the intersection of immigration challenges and personal health crises, leaving a community in mourning for a brave young activist.
