Home / Crime and Justice / Teen Fights for Dad, Dies of Cancer
Teen Fights for Dad, Dies of Cancer
16 Feb
Summary
- Teenager Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo died from rare cancer.
- Her father was detained by immigration officials last fall.
- A judge ruled her father conditionally entitled to remain in US.
A 16-year-old Chicagoan, Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, has passed away after a courageous fight with stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. Her death occurred on Friday, February 13, 2026, just three days after a significant legal development in her father's immigration case.
Ofelia's father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, a painter and home renovator, had been detained on October 18, 2025, during an immigration operation in suburban Chicago. He entered the U.S. in 2003 and faced allegations of living illegally and traffic violations.
During her treatment, Ofelia tirelessly advocated for her father's release. She appeared via Zoom at his hearings, emphasizing the hardships his deportation would cause their U.S. citizen children. Her advocacy, alongside her family's legal team, led to a ruling granting her father a chance at lawful permanent residency.
An immigration judge had previously ruled Torres Maldonado's detention illegal and ordered his release on a $2,000 bond, citing his lack of criminal history. His attorneys are now pursuing the cancellation of removal for him.
