Busted Headlight Snags Newborn’s Mom in ICE Custody, Igniting Local Outrage

In Clermont, Florida, a routine traffic stop for a busted headlight on April 26 turned into a nightmare for Lisandra Perez Raya, a 22-year-old mother of a 4-month-old infant. Pulled over near a McDonald’s on U.S. 27, Perez Raya was charged with driving without a license—a second-degree misdemeanor with a $500 bond. But instead of release, she was slapped with an ICE detainer, plunging her into federal immigration custody and sparking protests demanding her freedom.

Perez Raya’s case is emblematic of a disturbing trend in the Middle District of Florida, where local law enforcement, under the expanded 287(g) program, collaborates with ICE to turn minor traffic stops into immigration raids. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office now participates in this Task Force Model, allowing deputies to enforce federal immigration law during routine duties. Legal experts note a sharp rise in habeas petitions—224 filed in 2026 alone—challenging the detention of residents arrested for misdemeanors like driving without a license.

Supporters highlight that Perez Raya was actively pursuing legal status through DACA before the program’s discontinuation left her application pending. They argue that her detention reveals the “funneling” effect, where immigrants trying to comply with the law are nonetheless swept into the harsh machinery of immigration enforcement. Protesters outside the Lake County courthouse chanted “Free Lisandra” and “Keep families together,” underscoring the human cost of these policies.

Community volunteer Mitzi Maxwell, who organized the protests, questioned the logic of detaining a non-criminal mother over a minor traffic violation. “Lisandra has no criminal record, has lived here since infancy, and is the mother of a 4-month-old baby,” Maxwell said. “We respect the legal process, and we are asking that she be granted immigration bond so she can be with her baby while the legal process continues.”

Perez Raya’s husband, Sergio Rojo Landaverde, described the void her absence has created for their family. “Lisandra has always been the one who keeps our home running—she takes care of our baby’s appointments, manages our daily needs, and supports us in every way,” he said on a GoFundMe page set up for her legal defense.

While ICE detentions may no longer dominate headlines, the system continues to expand and claim lives. Reporter Jacob Soboroff warns that 2026 could be the deadliest year yet for those held in ICE custody. Lisandra Perez Raya’s case is a stark reminder that behind every statistic is a family torn apart by policies that prioritize enforcement over humanity.