US immigration officials have disputed claims that a mother was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at a school bus stop in North Austin, leaving her nine-year-old son alone and crying.
The incident took place on October 1, 2026, and drew attention after Austin mayor pro tem Jose “Chito” Vela shared footage on X which appeared to show a distressed child near vehicles with flashing lights.
Vela said the woman had been taking her son to the bus stop along Northgate Boulevard when ICE officers detained her. He condemned the location, saying a school bus stop was not an appropriate place for federal immigration enforcement.
The video was recorded by the wife of Leonardo Pelaez and was first posted on Facebook. In it, one woman can be heard asking whether the detained woman had simply been standing there, while another replies that officers had taken her.
Vela said he contacted the account that published the footage to establish when and where it was recorded and to learn more about the child before sharing it. He acknowledged that he had not spoken directly to the mother or her son.
What ICE says happened in North Austin
An ICE spokesperson gave a different account, saying agents encountered the woman during a vehicle stop rather than at a bus stop. Officials said she was released about ten minutes later after they learned she was the sole carer for children who might otherwise have been left unsupervised.
ICE said no children were present during the stop and that it had not confirmed whether the child heard crying in the video was related to the woman. The agency said decisions to release people in similar circumstances were made on a case-by-case basis.
The statement also urged people living in the US unlawfully to use the CBP Home app to arrange their departure, referring to a federal offer of $3,000 and a free flight for eligible people who self-deport.
Vela rejected the claim that no child was present, saying the footage showed a child and other parents filming the incident. He called on ICE to release any body-camera or vehicle-camera footage that might support or contradict the video.
In a comment on the original Facebook post, Pelaez said the boy was never left alone. He said the child insisted on going to school and that his wife stayed with him until the school bus arrived.
