Separated by Policy: A Portland Mother's 100+ Days in ICE Detention

Imagine being a small child, maybe just five years old, and waking up every day without your mother. Imagine counting the days, one by one, watching them stretch into weeks, then months, without a comforting hug or a bedtime story. That’s the heartbreaking reality for the three young children of Jackie Merlos, a Portland mother who has now spent over 100 agonizing days in ICE detention, her future, and theirs, hanging precariously in the balance as she faces deportation back to Honduras.

It’s a story, sadly, that echoes through many communities, but for Jackie’s family, it's acutely personal. Her five-year-old daughter, who simply adores her mother, misses her terribly. This isn’t just about immigration policy; it’s about a family ripped apart, about children yearning for the very person who brought them into the world and shielded them. It’s a profound, emotional toll that no family should have to endure.

Jackie’s journey to the United States began, like so many others, out of sheer desperation. She fled Honduras in 2014, leaving behind a life marred by terrifying gang violence and threats that made staying impossible. It wasn’t a choice made lightly, but a flight for survival. Once here, she sought asylum, a legal process designed to protect those in fear for their lives. However, her asylum claim was denied, and a subsequent appeal also fell through. Then, during what should have been a routine check-in with immigration officials, she was detained by ICE.

Her husband, Jose Orellana, also knows this struggle all too well. He, too, is undocumented and has faced his own time in ICE detention previously. Together, they've built a life here in Portland, working hard, raising their kids — all of whom are U.S. citizens. Now, with Jackie gone, Jose is left to care for their children, navigating a future filled with profound uncertainty and the constant fear of what might come next for his wife and, indeed, for their entire family.

For over three months, Jackie has been held at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center, a place far from the familiar comforts of home and her beloved children. Her legal team and a growing chorus of community advocates are fighting tirelessly on her behalf, presenting compelling arguments for her release and a stay of deportation. They highlight the danger she faces if forced to return to Honduras, a country still plagued by the very violence she sought to escape. More than that, they emphasize the undeniable fact that separating a mother from her U.S. citizen children inflicts an irreversible wound on the family unit.

The situation presents a stark, almost impossible choice: either deport Jackie to a country where her life could genuinely be at risk, or allow her to remain, reunited with her young children who depend on her so deeply. This isn't just about legal statutes or bureaucratic processes; it's about human beings, about the fundamental right to safety, and the powerful, unbreakable bond between a mother and her children. As the days tick by, Jackie Merlos and her family continue to wait, hoping against hope for a decision that will allow them to finally be whole again.