In Washington, D.C., Paula Callejas, a 45-year-old entrepreneur from Canada, is struggling to expand her swimsuit business in Florida. After taking a break to care for her ailing father in Canada, she returned to the U.S. to resume her fashion aspirations. Instead of celebrating her new line, Callejas found herself in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Callejas's family is feeling the financial strain as they navigate the complex U.S. legal and immigration systems. Her mother, Maria Estella Cano, expressed her daughter's emotional distress by stating, "She was very strong... Now every, every day she cries, every day and says she can’t take it anymore."
The situation comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s intensified deportation efforts since he returned to office in January 2025. His administration's immigration policies have included focusing on deporting undocumented individuals regardless of their circumstances, despite claims of prioritizing known criminals.
Callejas was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, after her family emigrated from Colombia. She launched her swimsuit line around 2012 but paused its growth to care for her father, who passed away in 2020. After his death, she sought to revive her business efforts, holding a few runway shows in Florida and gaining traction within the state, even being invited to Miami Swim Week.
Her family believes that Callejas was in the United States on a non-immigrant visa for individuals with special skills, which was set to expire in March 2025. They assert that she applied for an extension in February; however, it was denied due to a technicality regarding the ink color used on the application. After an attempt to rectify the issue, Callejas faced further complications.
On March 28, 2025, Callejas was arrested for battery related to an altercation with her boyfriend. Her family insists that she is innocent and was acting in self-defense. Following her release on bail, she was taken into ICE custody.
According to an ICE spokesperson, Callejas entered the U.S. on a non-immigrant visitor visa and violated the terms of her admission. She is held "pending completion of her immigration proceedings." Cano described her daughter’s detainment as a "nightmare," expressing disbelief and heartache each day.
Callejas has reportedly been moved between at least three different detention facilities, and her family is depleting their finances to secure legal representation, with legal fees alone costing upwards of $5,000 for the necessary paperwork. As she continues to face uncertainty in detention, the family noted that Callejas's mental health is in jeopardy.
Cano voiced her desire for her daughter to receive a fair opportunity to defend herself in court. Callejas’s next criminal court appearance is scheduled for Monday. Her family hopes that once this issue is resolved, she can voluntarily leave the United States, allowing her to complete her visa application from Canada and pursue her dreams in the fashion industry.
Global Affairs Canada has stated it cannot disclose specific details regarding individual cases due to privacy regulations. However, the department reported being aware of approximately 55 Canadians currently detained by ICE, indicating a generally stable number of such cases in recent months.
In a related incident, Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old Canadian, passed away in ICE custody in South Florida in June 2025. He had entered the U.S. in 1988 on a legal visa, became a permanent resident in 1991, and was facing removal due to a drug conviction. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand acknowledged the situation on social media, with consular officials seeking more information from U.S. authorities to understand Noviello's circumstances.
