Argentine Nanny Detained by ICE Speaks Out After Release

Iliana Lick, a 30-year-old Argentine nanny, has broken her silence after spending a month detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Philadelphia. Released on a $10,000 bond, Lick expressed shock and exhaustion, stating she felt "blessed" by the support she received from both the United States and Argentina. She recounted her experience, emphasizing the distress caused by her detention.

Lick strongly criticized the treatment she endured, stating, "They treated me like a criminal, and that is not right." She highlighted that many individuals in detention are not criminals but are hardworking people with families who do not deserve such treatment. "We are not criminals, and we were treated as if we were. That is not right," she insisted, adding that she missed her friends and cried on the plane thinking about them.

Her lawyer, Ana Ferreira, explained that Lick was arrested on July 11 at Philadelphia International Airport as she was preparing to travel. Lick had arrived in the U.S. in 2023 on a tourist visa, which was extended, and she had a pending asylum application. According to Ferreira, Lick was awaiting an interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) when ICE agents apprehended her.

Ferreira found the arrest particularly surprising, as Lick had "never been in the United States illegally for even a single day" and was actively trying to remain in the country legally. The lawyer also noted that Lick was detained during domestic travel, an action that individuals in similar situations had previously undertaken without issue. Lick was transferred to a detention center in New Mexico and remained there for approximately a month before her release.