Family speaks out after Palm Springs DACA-recipient detained by ICE

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - The family of 26-year-old William Villa is speaking out after he was detained by immigration enforcement agents in Palm Springs last week.

Villa's sister says he was detained on Ramon Road the morning of May 15th and transferred to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center.

"He did tell us how he got pulled over. There were three vehicles that crowded him and basically just picked them up and took him. He told us that as soon as he got there, the first thing they asked him was if he was willing to sign a self-deportation. Since he's been there, they've asked him three times already," Cristina Villa said.

Born in Mexico, Villa has lived in the U.S. for more than 20 years and is a DACA recipient in the process of renewing his documentation. His family says his DACA status expired in March, while he had been working on the application.

However, some immigration attorneys claim the renewal process has slowed, as deportations increase under the Trump administration.

"There's still pending cases that have not been adjudicated, and those are running over 12 months," Ally Bolour, a Palm Springs immigration lawyer said.

News Channel 3 asked Bolour how quickly DACA recipients can be ordered to leave after the expiration.

"If somebody doesn't have a removal order already, they need to be placed through the removal process. We tell our clients to have a plan B, look for other things that perhaps you can do. Perhaps it's going to take several years, but at least you start the ball rolling," Bolour said.

As for the Villa family, they say they hope their future plans include reunification.

"One of my uncles actually was detained not that long ago as well. It's just unfair. You know, a lot of people are living in fear every day that their family members are going to be taken away," Villa said.

News Channel 3 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement and were told in a statement:

“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers arrested William Guadalupe Villa-Cambron May 15 while carrying out targeted enforcement operations in Palm Springs, California. He is a citizen of Mexico by birth and entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown place on an unknown date.

DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country. The DACA program offers temporary protection from deportation but is not a path to citizenship or a green card. Participants must renew their protection every two years. While Villa filed to renew his DACA status in November 2025, any illegal alien who is a DACA recipient may be subject to arrest and deportation for a number of reasons including criminal activity.

ICE follows current regulations and Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) precedent, which state that DACA is considered temporary and does not confer a right to remain in the U.S. indefinitely. Enforcement priorities may also consider criminal history and other factors, but DACA status alone is not sufficient to prevent removal proceedings. Villa will have an opportunity to argue his case before an immigration judge in the near future.”

News Channel 3 followed up to ask if Villa had a criminal record and why he was targeted. We are waiting to hear back.

William Villa's family is fundraising to cover his legal costs at, https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bring-our-brother-home-vmjy6.