Since ICE’s recent wave of raids began, countless families have been pulled apart with little consideration for the fallout. Parents have been taken from their children without warning, leaving kids frightened and unsure of what comes next. One California family was swept up in this turmoil.
In a video shared online, a man documents the moment he takes his 8-year-old brother to the airport so the boy can return to Honduras. The child is a U.S. citizen, but he’s leaving because ICE deported their mother in July, leaving the older brother responsible for raising his siblings. For a time, they managed. But the youngest hasn’t been able to cope with the distance from his mom. The separation has taken a visible toll, triggering panic attacks that have made it impossible for him to stay.
It’s a stark reminder of how these raids reach far beyond paperwork and policy—they’re reshaping real families in real time.
In the video the California man shared, he tried to keep things light, tossing in humor as a way to mask how painful the moment really was. His little brother even wore a shirt that read “Mama’s boy,” a detail that said more than any explanation could. The man mentioned that once his brother is settled in Honduras, they’ll still play Roblox together to stay connected. Fortunately, the separation won’t stretch on forever; they already have plans to reunite in Spain for Christmas.
At the airport, his frustration came through clearly. “Just know this is what y’all voted for: family separation. I hope you guys are [expletive] happy,” he said. In the caption, he added, “Reminder: inhumane deportations affect US citizens too.”
The one bright moment in the video is the reunion between the boy and his mother, which was a brief, hopeful reminder of what should never have been taken from them in the first place.
People Reacting to the California Man’s Video
A lot of people were left heartbroken after seeing the California man’s video. The way that ICE is treating people made one person say, “Ice is a terroist organization I’m so sorry.” Another person believed that America is failing people as they wrote, “I am so sorry America failed your family.” Someone also said, “I’m so sorry this is happening to your family. I’m glad your mom is safe. Safe travels to Spain for all of you.” Since the boy was Going through panic attacks, one TikTok user couldn’t help but write, “this country is just traumatizing kids and adults for no reason.” One person also shared their own experience with ICE. “Daughters friend got picked up and deported to Honduras at his appointment to complete his citizenship. So disgusted with what’s going on in this country!” they wrote.
More people showed sympathy toward the California man and his family. “This is so heart breaking, I’m so sorry your family is being pulled apart. But I’m praying for you all,” one person wrote. As expected, some people didn’t feel any compassion, as someone wrote, “I did vote for this! They just got a man who’s been on El Salvador’s most wanted list for a decade in Nebraska!” This made another person reply and say, “So that makes ripping families apart okay?93% of people that they’re detaining and deporting have no prior violent convictions or charges…” No one should go through this, especially an 8-year-old.
