U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detained two parents in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, leaving their four children to manage the family's household and business. Romeo Perez Sr. was taken into custody during his commute to work in late 2025, and his wife, Olga Perez, was detained several months later following a traffic stop.
The couple, who are undocumented, had resided in the United States for several decades. Their four children, Eliza, Jessica, Romeo Jr., and Cynthia, are U.S. citizens. According to Eliza Perez, 21, she has assumed responsibility for the family's landscaping business and household management while her parents remain in detention.
The case was highlighted by reporters from Reveal and Mother Jones as part of an investigation into current deportation activities. Data cited in the report indicates that approximately 205,000 children have had a parent detained by ICE over the past 18 months. ICE officials generally state that enforcement actions are carried out in accordance with federal immigration law and administrative priorities.
The ripple effects of these detentions extend beyond immediate family structures into local economies and community networks. When primary earners and business operators are removed from the labor pool, family enterprises face potential revenue losses, operational disruptions, or total dissolution, which in turn impacts local clients and vendors. These situations highlight the ongoing legal and social realities facing mixed-status households, where federal enforcement actions intersect with the legal rights and livelihoods of citizen dependents. Moving forward, the affected families face immigration court proceedings that will determine whether the parents are deported or granted relief, while the children continue to manage day-to-day household and business operations amidst ongoing legal uncertainties.