An Ecuadorian mother and daughter were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a hospital in central Florida following a car crash on Thursday, August 20, 2026.

Grace Stephanie Calero Cabanilla, 39, and her daughter, Giulianna Mía Carriel Calero, 19, were involved in a collision in Poinciana, Florida, where their vehicle was struck on the passenger side and flipped over four times, according to arrest reports reviewed by multiple news outlets.

Jonathan Bravo, Calero Cabanilla’s cousin, told Newsweek that the pair “almost died” in the crash. Pictures posted by Bravo on a fundraiser showed a black SUV with damage to both the front and rear.

After being transported by ambulance to HCA Florida Poinciana hospital, the mother and daughter were placed in separate rooms. A Polk County sheriff’s deputy questioned Calero Cabanilla about her immigration status.

A Polk County sheriff’s office spokesperson stated to Newsweek that during the crash investigation, deputies learned the driver was in the United States illegally after overstaying an expired visa by several years. It was also determined that Calero Cabanilla had overstayed her visa. ICE issued detainers for both women, and after their hospital discharge, they were taken into custody and transported to Polk County Jail. An arrest warrant reviewed by Newsweek showed neither woman had a criminal history.

Meanwhile, Bravo said in the fundraiser that Calero Cabanilla has a pending asylum case and a work permit, while her daughter holds a visa valid until 2030.

A Guardian analysis published in February 2026 found that 77% of people placed into deportation proceedings for the first time after Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025 had no criminal convictions.

Sources