Nine-year-old boy from Torrance held by ICE, facing planned deportation to Honduras; community voices anger and protest
Hot Off the Press in Torrance
There's a buzz in the air in Torrance as community members are left scratching their heads over the sudden disappearance of 9-year-old Martir Garcia Lara, a beloved fourth-grader at Torrance Elementary School.
One day, he was simply absent.
Teachers and PTA officials were left guessing if he was being held at a federal immigration facility with his father, but firm answers haven't been forthcoming.
Federal officials confirmed last Thursday that the boy and his father were taken into custody on May 29, following a check-in at federal offices in downtown Los Angeles. The father and son were transferred to an immigration facility in Texas the following day, and plans are in place to deport them to Honduras.
Parents with Torrance Elementary's PTA sent out a letter urging residents to reach out to elected officials to show their support for Martir. The PTA was stretched thin on answers, but they were determined to ensure the public was aware that the child was missing from their community.
A Wave of Immigration Actions
The detention of the Garcia family is just one in a series of high-profile immigration enforcement actions to hit California recently. Over the past week, these actions have been a part of President Trump's vowed deportation crackdown.
For instance, immigration agents raided a popular San Diego restaurant and made arrests, causing a stir among residents. Agents also targeted an underground nightclub in the Los Angeles area, apprehending Chinese and Taiwanese nationals in what has become a contentious issue.
A Community Shaken
"We're all searching for answers," Torrance Elementary PTA volunteer Ria Villanueva told our reporters. "When something like this happens, it shakes all of us in the community. There's not a child at our school that we don't treat as our own."
This sad situation is just one example of a broader pattern unfolding across the state. Courthouses have become the latest battleground in Trump's immigration crackdown, with federal agents arresting individuals after their court appearances.
Immigration judges have been granting requests to dismiss cases from deportation proceedings, but these immigrants often find themselves met by plainclothes federal agents who take them into custody for expedited removal. emotions run high as families are kept apart, and many fear for their futures.
A State Divided
Half of California's 9 million children are part of immigrant families, with most being U.S. citizens, according to a study from UCLA. As these actions continue to unfold, it's clear that immigration remains a deeply divisive issue.
In the meantime, community members in Torrance are keeping Martir in their thoughts, hoping for his safe return.
Times staff writer Rachel Uranga contributed to this report.
Further Reading
217 days and counting: Trump's rules slow the release of migrant children to their families
Family of teen arrested on his way to volleyball practice asks immigration officials to release him
Immigration judge grants bond to Massachusetts teen arrested on his way to volleyball practice
Enrichment Data:Recent immigration enforcement actions in California have included several high-profile detentions and targeted raids, sparking public outrage and controversy. Below are details of two notable cases: the detention of the Martir Garcia Lara family and the apprehension of Chinese and Taiwanese citizens in Southern California nightclub raids.
The Martir Garcia Lara family, hailing from Honduras, was ordered deported by an immigration judge on September 1, 2022. However, they did not leave as instructed, and they were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Los Angeles on May 29, 2025. They were subsequently transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas, awaiting removal to Honduras.
There is no direct information in the provided results about specific nightclub raids targeting Chinese and Taiwanese citizens in Southern California, or any confirmed arrests associated with such operations.
- The Garcia family's detention is part of a series of immigration enforcement actions in California that have gained public attention, being one of President Trump's vowed deportation crackdown.
- Federal officials took Martir Garcia Lara, a Torrance Elementary School student, and his father into custody on May 29 in Los Angeles, with plans to deport them to Honduras.
- In addition to the detention of the Garcia family, immigration agents have also raided a popular San Diego restaurant and an underground nightclub in the Los Angeles area, causing a stir among residents and apprehending Chinese and Taiwanese nationals.
- The issue of immigration remains highly contested in California, particularly in light of recent enforcement actions and the increasing number of individuals being detained following court appearances.
- Communities in Torrance remain hopeful for the safe return of Martir, with parents urging residents to contact elected officials and spreading awareness about his disappearance from the local school.
