Introduction

A mother and her infant daughter are at the center of a new legal battle after being held in a hotel room by immigration authorities. The lawsuit claims the pair were detained for five days in a Chicago hotel by an ICE contractor and the hotel chain that hosted them.

What Happened

The suit, filed in late September 2026, names MVM Inc—a longtime ICE contractor—and Sonesta Chicago O'Hare Airport Rosemont as defendants. Valentina Galvis, an asylum-seeker from Colombia, and her then-seven-month-old son, a U.S. citizen, were arrested by ICE at a Chicago immigration court in June 2025 and confined to a hotel room for five days. The complaint alleges the room served as a makeshift detention cell, that food and clothing provided for the infant were inadequate, and that the arrangement was profit-motivated. Galvis described being unable to communicate with the outside world and unsure if she or her child would ever be freed. The lawsuit also names five Sonesta executives and two MVM employees, including an employee who transported the pair to a federal office upon their release.

Why This Matters

This case highlights how ICE outsources family detention to private contractors and hotels, raising questions about oversight, conditions, and profit motives. An inspector general's report last month found ICE has failed to properly manage its detention space contracts. The lawsuit seeks more than $50,000 in compensatory damages plus punitive damages, arguing that both the contractor and the hotel knowingly participated in a civil conspiracy to detain a mother and her infant. Advocates say the case could set a precedent for how immigration detention is conducted in non-traditional facilities.

Key Takeaways

  • Mother and infant were detained for five days in a Sonesta hotel room after an ICE arrest in June 2025.
  • The lawsuit alleges false imprisonment, inadequate food and clothing for the baby, and profit-driven detention conditions.
  • MVM Inc. and Sonesta are named as defendants; MVM did not respond to requests for comment.
  • Sonesta said it does not condone illegal behavior but declined to comment on the suit.
  • The case underscores broader concerns about ICE's use of hotel rooms for family detention, with over $1.3 billion in contracts since 2020.
  • Galvis continues to face deportation proceedings while dealing with PTSD from the experience.

Conclusion

The lawsuit represents a significant moment in the push for accountability in immigration detention practices. As Galvis's legal team argues, the confinement of a mother and her infant in a hotel room raises serious ethical and legal questions. With the asylum claim still pending and the mother undergoing therapy for trauma, the outcome of this case may influence how ICE and its contractors handle families in the future. Observers say the coming months will be critical in determining whether this legal action leads to broader policy changes or remains an isolated case.