The community of Torrance is in distress after 9-year-old Martir Garcia Lara was reported missing when he did not attend school. It was later revealed he and his father, Martir Garcia-Benegas, were detained by federal immigration officials and are facing deportation to Honduras. Parents at Torrance Elementary School, concerned for Martir's welfare, are mobilizing to seek answers and support from elected officials. The incident highlights ongoing immigration enforcement actions amid a crackdown that has affected various communities.
"We're all searching for answers," Torrance Elementary PTA volunteer Ria Villanueva told The Times. "When something like this happens, it shakes all of us in the community. There's not a child at our school that we don't treat as our own."
Federal officials confirmed Thursday the boy and his father were taken into custody May 29 after checking in with federal officials in downtown Los Angeles.
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