ICE Arrests Ecuadorian Mother and Daughter in Florida Hospital After Car Accident

Grace Calero and her 19-year-old daughter, Giulianna Carriel, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inside an emergency room in Florida after surviving a severe car crash. According to local reports, the Ecuadorians were receiving medical treatment at HCA Florida Poinciana Hospital when immigration agents entered the facility and took them into custody.

The collision occurred when another vehicle lost control, crossed into their lane, and struck their car, causing it to overturn. Following the wreck, emergency responders transported both women to the hospital. Calero sustained cervical injuries requiring a neck brace, while her daughter suffered a nervous shock from the impact, as reported by outlets covering the incident.

While both women remained in the emergency department, immigration officers arrived to interview and detain them. Gia Calero, the sister of Grace Calero, described the encounter in interviews with regional media, noting that agents approached them inside the treatment room. A video of the operation showed the mother and daughter handcuffed and escorted past hospital staff and patients.

Legal Status and Policy Context Behind the Hospital Arrest

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, investigators determined that both women had been living in the United States unlawfully after their visas expired several years prior. Authorities confirmed that neither woman faced criminal charges at the time of their transfer to the county jail. However, family representatives maintained that the pair held valid documentation and were undergoing a political asylum process.

The operation took place following a shift in federal enforcement guidelines. In January 2025, the administration of President Donald Trump revoked previous directives that restricted ICE operations within sensitive locations such as hospitals, schools, and places of worship. This policy change permitted federal agents to expand their presence into medical centers across Florida, a state where approximately 39,000 immigration arrests were recorded between January 2025 and March 2026.

Immigration attorneys note that pending asylum applications do not automatically protect individuals from deportation under current enforcement priorities. Legal advocates and community groups expressed sharp criticism over the hospital operation, arguing that enforcing immigration warrants inside emergency rooms deters vulnerable populations from seeking necessary medical care after accidents or emergencies.