Dying teen's testimony helps father win US immigration battle days before her death

A 16-year-old Chicago girl, Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, passed away on Friday after battling stage 4 cancer. Just days earlier, she had testified via Zoom in support of her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, during his immigration hearing in the USA. The judge's decision in that case now offers her father a chance to stay in the US legally.

Ofelia was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, an aggressive soft tissue cancer, in December 2024. Despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, her condition worsened. In a video shared on a GoFundMe page, she spoke about her illness while also advocating for her father, who had been detained during an immigration operation by US Bank.

Ruben Torres Maldonado, a painter and home renovator, was arrested on October 18, 2024, as part of 'Operation Midway Blitz'. The Department of Homeland Security claimed he had lived in the US illegally for years and had prior driving offences. However, his attorneys argued that his detention was unlawful and violated due process.

Three days before Ofelia's death, an immigration judge ruled that Torres Maldonado qualified for 'cancellation of removal'. The decision cited the extreme hardship his deportation would cause his three US citizen children. Following this, a separate judge ordered his release on a $2,000 bond, noting his lack of serious criminal history.

The ruling now allows Torres Maldonado to apply for lawful permanent residency, potentially leading to citizenship in the US.

Ofelia's death leaves behind a family already navigating legal battles and grief. Her father's case, however, now provides a path to legal status in the US. The judge's decision ensures he can remain with his children while pursuing residency.