Louisiana nursing student speaks out during her six-month ICE detention

Basile, Louisiana — For the past six months, Vilma Palacios, a 22-year-old nursing school graduate from New Orleans, has been held in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility in Basile, Louisiana, after her unexpected arrest in June 2025. Her story has drawn attention to the human impact of U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly in cases where individuals are deeply integrated into their communities and workforce.

Palacios, who moved to the United States from Honduras at age six, had recently completed her degree at LSU Health New Orleans School of Nursing and accepted a job offer at Touro Infirmary when she was arrested while obtaining a routine vehicle inspection sticker. She did not know that her previously closed immigration case had been reopened.

Palacios has no criminal convictions and had been authorized to work in the U.S., awaiting renewal of her work permit at the time of her arrest. Advocates and healthcare leaders have highlighted the irony of detaining a trained nurse amid ongoing staff shortages in Louisiana hospitals.

In her own words, Palacios said, “The only thing now that I want is my freedom back.” She described the emotional strain of detention, sharing a common dormitory space with other detainees and facing challenges in accessing basic supplies and communication with family and legal counsel.

ICE detention facilities in Louisiana have previously drawn scrutiny for access to medical care, mental health support, and overall living conditions. Advocacy groups emphasize that prolonged detention, especially in remote locations, can make it more difficult for detainees to navigate legal processes and maintain personal stability.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) characterized Palacios as an individual “in the U.S. illegally” and stressed that she is entitled to due process. DHS officials noted that work authorization alone does not confer legal immigration status.

Palacios’s case highlights the tension between enforcement and community integration. She has lived in the U.S. for nearly two decades, completed higher education, and was poised to begin a professional career. Her detention underscores the complexities of immigration law and enforcement policies that can affect individuals who are deeply rooted in U.S. communities.

Her family and supporters have organized protests calling for her release, emphasizing her contributions to her community and the healthcare sector. Louisiana, like much of the United States, faces a shortage of nurses, and the loss of a trained professional, even temporarily, has practical consequences.

Legal advocates argue that prolonged detention without clear justification places strain on individuals’ rights and well-being. They point out that cases like Palacios’s raise questions about how enforcement is applied to individuals who are fully integrated into American society.

Critics note that Palacios is not an isolated case. Louisiana has become a regional hub for ICE detention, and other students, families, and workers have experienced abrupt confinement, prompting debate over how enforcement policies balance legal obligations with humanitarian considerations.

Supporters of strict enforcement argue that immigration laws must be upheld to maintain the rule of law and border integrity. They contend that work authorization and community standing do not exempt individuals from legal detention if statutory criteria are met.

As Palacios awaits resolution, her experience has catalyzed discussions on how the United States balances enforcement with fairness, the interplay between immigration policy and workforce needs, and the human consequences of detention. Her statement about wanting her freedom back highlights the personal toll of enforcement policies and reminds policymakers of the people at the center of these debates.