East Palo Alto Mother Discharged from Hospital After Collapsing During ICE Arrest, Community Rallies Support

East Palo Alto, CA – Maria Mendoza-Sanchez, a beloved housekeeper and mother of four U.S. citizen children, has been discharged from Stanford Hospital, just days after she dramatically fainted during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest at her home. The deeply emotional incident, which saw her collapse as agents arrived, has galvanized her family and the broader Bay Area community, spotlighting the profound human impact of intensified immigration enforcement.

Mendoza-Sanchez, who has called East Palo Alto home for 23 years, was taken into custody on Monday morning.

Her family reported that she collapsed under the immense stress and shock of the agents' presence, leading to her immediate hospitalization. After receiving medical attention and observation at Stanford Hospital, she was released on Thursday, though her future remains precarious as she is expected to remain in ICE custody.

For years, Mendoza-Sanchez had lived under an order of deportation, but had consistently received annual stays of removal based on humanitarian grounds – primarily the fact that all four of her children, now between the ages of 12 and 21, are U.S.

citizens. Her husband, Eusebio Sanchez, who also faced a similar order, had his most recent stay of removal approved, adding another layer of complexity and emotional strain to their situation.

ICE officials confirmed her arrest, stating she was a “fugitive alien” who had exhausted her appeals.

However, for her family and supporters, these administrative labels fail to capture the devastating reality of a mother potentially separated from her children and a family torn apart after decades of contributing to their community.

The unfolding events have ignited a wave of outrage and solidarity across East Palo Alto and beyond.

Local advocacy groups, community leaders, and elected officials have rallied behind Mendoza-Sanchez, calling for her immediate release and highlighting the critical need for comprehensive immigration reform that prioritizes family unity. Vigils have been held, and petitions circulated, all underscoring a collective plea for compassion and justice.

As Maria Mendoza-Sanchez now faces an uncertain path forward, potentially detained while awaiting deportation proceedings, her case serves as a poignant reminder of the personal stories behind national immigration debates.

Her struggle underscores the emotional toll on families caught in the crosshairs of evolving enforcement policies, leaving many to question the human cost of separating longtime residents from their American-born children.