Immigration agents arrest father in Niles as his 16-year-old daughter fights cancer: family

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago-area family says immigration agents arrested their father, Ruben Torres, in Niles over the weekend.

Now, they have questions about his whereabouts as his daughter battles cancer.

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Torres' 16-year-old daughter, Ofelia, spoke out at Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley's Monday night meeting in Lakeview, saying she wishes her father was home to take care of the family as she fights cancer.

"You guys are targeting the wrong people," she said. "You are targeting hardworking fathers, mothers, kids. They don't deserve it."

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Torres' family said he is being transferred between different facilities.

Assistant CHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin issued a statement saying, "On October 18, U.S. Border Patrol conducted a targeted immigration enforcement operation that resulted in the arrest of Ruben Torres Maldanado, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico. His criminal history shows he has a history of habitual driving offenses and has been charged multiple times with driving without insurance, driving without a valid license, and speeding. During his arrest he did not comply with instructions from the officers and attempted to flee in his vehicle and backed into a government vehicle. He will remain in ICE custody pending removal.

"This is nothing more than a desperate Hail Mary attempt to keep a criminal illegal alien in our country. The Trump administration is fighting for the rule of law and the American people."