Yesenia Esquivel Santiago is currently facing a daunting challenge as she fights for her husband’s release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody while preparing to give birth to their second child. Her ordeal began on September 21, when she received an alarming text from her husband, Lucas, requesting her to retrieve his van after he, along with his brother and a friend, were detained by ICE agents in South Austin while en route to a job for his carpentry business.
Upon arriving to collect the vehicle, Yesenia was struck by the remnants of a typical morning commute – coffee in the cupholders and cookies scattered on the floor. “It looked like workers going to work, eating their morning breakfast, their morning coffee,” she remembered, noting that the tacos left inside were still warm. This incident occurred just one day after an ICE agent shot and killed 28-year-old Wilber Garces Perez, amplifying concerns about immigration enforcement within the community.
Now, Yesenia is not only caring for their 14-month-old son but also grappling with the prospect of being a single parent in the near future, as her husband remains detained. “I am not a single mom. I have the best dad I could ever ask for my children, but he got taken from me,” she expressed, highlighting the emotional toll of their situation.
The Santiago family represents many others in Austin who have felt the repercussions of intensified ICE operations in recent months. Following the shooting incident, ICE confirmed on social media that it would continue its activities in the area, reinforcing the fears felt by many. “This is a lot of people’s reality,” Yesenia said. “You know it’s happening, but it’s not a reality until it’s happening to you or your family.”
A Family’s Journey
Yesenia, a lifelong Austin resident, met Lucas, who immigrated from San Luis Potosí, Mexico, at Cristo Rey Catholic Church in East Austin in 2016. Their relationship blossomed over shared experiences, from enjoying chicken wings at Pluckers to dancing at local events and visiting the flea market. After marrying in 2021, they purchased a home together and began the lengthy process of securing legal status for Lucas, which remains unresolved.
The couple’s dreams of family life were overshadowed by tragedy when they lost their first child at 19 weeks of pregnancy. Yesenia described this as the toughest period of her life, during which Lucas provided unwavering support. Now, with him absent, she feels “inconsolable.” Their son Yadiel was born in 2025, bringing joy back into their lives and allowing Yesenia to embrace her role as a full-time mother while Lucas became a dedicated father.
As political tensions rose with the re-election of President Donald Trump, who vowed to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Yesenia felt compelled to take precautions. Their family outings were curtailed; she took on the responsibility of driving everywhere, and they avoided places perceived as potential targets for ICE. Lucas remained vigilant, checking his work van daily and obtaining a library card for identification. They even established a plan for what to do in the event of an ICE encounter.
Despite their preparations, the reason for Lucas’s detention remains unclear. He informed Yesenia that no traffic violations or criminal offenses were cited at the time of his arrest. Currently held at an immigration detention center in Taylor, Texas, the couple is now exploring their legal options in the face of an uncertain future.
An ICE representative indicated that Lucas would remain in custody as his immigration case progresses, with attorneys suggesting it could be months before he is released. During a recent phone call from the detention center, Lucas urged Yesenia to “Hold on to God’s hands” and to be strong, especially with their second child expected in a matter of weeks.
Yesenia faces the dual challenge of preparing for childbirth while raising funds to cover their lawyer’s fees, which exceed $12,000. With Lucas typically managing financial matters, she finds herself overwhelmed by the prospect of securing a job, arranging childcare, and navigating her household responsibilities all at once. “I don’t know if I can find child care, a job and then give birth, and then go back to work,” she lamented.
Despite the uncertainty, Yesenia remains hopeful that one day she and Lucas will be able to reunite and continue building their lives together. “Loving someone who’s undocumented is just so hard, but I didn’t ask for it,” she reflected, underscoring the emotional complexity of their circumstances.
