PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - A mother of four spent four months in federal immigration custody after what began as a family visit to a park along the Canadian border turned into a prolonged detention ordeal.Jackie Merlos, a Honduran national who runs a local construction business with her husband, was detained by Border Patrol agents on June 28 at Peace Arch Park along the Canadian border in Washington. Her children are U.S. citizens.“We were saying goodbye when they came in. They say, ‘hey, you guys need to go with us,’” Merlos said.An Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesperson said Merlos was detained for allegedly trying to smuggle her sister, a permanent Canadian resident, into the United States. Merlos denies this allegation.Merlos and her children were taken to a Border Patrol facility in Bellingham, Wash., where they spent two weeks together in custody.“They were telling me, ‘mom, why if we are citizens of United States, why they are treating us like that,’” Merlos said of her children’s questions during detention.The situation drew the attention of Rep. Maxine Dexter, who represents the Portland area where Merlos lives. On July 11, after having difficulty obtaining Merlos’ location from federal officials, Dexter visited the Border Patrol facility and demanded the release of Merlos and her children.“We saw Jackie and the kids, and they wouldn’t let us speak to them. They said that she had to sign a release form, and that they were holding her on criminal charges for trafficking her sister,” Dexter said.Merlos said she and her husband Carlos have pending U-visa applications, which grant residency to immigrants who are victims of crimes. During the initial weeks in custody, ICE agents also detained her husband in Portland.SEE ALSO:In mid-July, Dexter and other lawmakers intervened, leading an immigration judge to pause Jackie Merlos’ deportation. This allowed Merlos’ children to be released into the care of family friend Mimi Lettunich, while Jackie was transferred to the ICE detention center in Tacoma.“They’ve just been through an incredible amount of trauma themselves,” Lettunich said of caring for the children. “That intentional hiding of her and the children for the two weeks, they felt that very deeply.”Merlos spent another three months in custody awaiting immigration court proceedings. She said she briefly saw her husband at the Tacoma ICE facility and later learned he was deported to Honduras.“It was bad. Like I think they treat a criminal better than how they treated us,” Merlos said.After pressure from Dexter and other legal action taken on Merlos’ behalf, an immigration judge terminated Merlos’ case and she was released from ICE custody in late October.“It was a relief, that was my prayer too, hoping to see my kids again,” Merlos said of reuniting with her children.Merlos said she and her children are currently living with Lettunich as they evaluate next steps. Her construction business is on hold after her time in custody, and her children miss their father following his deportation. Despite the experience she had, Merlos said others in her position should not be afraid to stand up for their rights. “Don’t live in fear, because what they’re trying to do to us is for us to get scared,” Merlos said. “We need to stand up and do something. Because I know if we all get united, this is going to change.”Dexter said the case should cause concern in the community and vowed to continue fighting immigration enforcement actions amid what she says is a lack of transparency from ICE and other federal law enforcement. “The rules of the law is not the rule anymore. And they’re holding the truth, if not overtly, intentionally lying to members of Congress,” Dexter said. “That should be an incredible cry to every person in the United States about is happening.” Copyright 2025 KPTV-KPDX. All rights reserved.