Katie Blankenship

A Nashville mother, identified as Maria Perez, was detained by ICE while breastfeeding her 10-month-old child, violating ICE's 2021 policy prohibiting detention of nursing mothers unless they pose a national security threat. Her attorneys argue the arrest lacked a warrant, probable cause, and was racially motivated, as agents detained her instead of her husband and transferred her to Louisiana, where bond hearings are not available in her jurisdiction.