About this episode

Published December 11th, 2025, 07:48 pm

Detroit siblings Miriam and Ernesto came to the U.S. together as toddlers. They grew up one grade apart, sharing a life, a city, and a future. Now Ernesto is behind the walls of the North Lake immigration detention center in Baldwin after being detained by ICE on his way to work — despite legal work authorization and a pending green-card application.

His sister Miriam joins us to reflect on their childhood and the shock of his arrest. 

Listen to part 2, where legal advocates and lawmakers help us understand why cases like Ernesto’s are becoming more common as immigration enforcement expands in Michigan and nationwide.

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The Metro

He grew up here. ICE took him. His sister tells the story.

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25m