Jessica Cheung

I first spoke to Isla back in February. This was a month into the Trump administration, which had promised quick and mass deportations. I was calling immigration lawyers around the country, trying to get a sense of who exactly was getting targeted for deportation and how ICE was fining them. And that's when a lawyer called me back, saying you got to talk to Isla.

I first spoke to Isla back in February. This was a month into the Trump administration, which had promised quick and mass deportations. I was calling immigration lawyers around the country, trying to get a sense of who exactly was getting targeted for deportation and how ICE was fining them. And that's when a lawyer called me back, saying you got to talk to Isla.

Right now, Isla's a sophomore at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Massachusetts, where she's studying architecture and interior design. She was raised in a town called Saugus, just outside Boston, where days before we had talked, her dad was detained by ICE officers. Tell me a little bit about your dad. What is his name? How old is he? And what does he do?

Right now, Isla's a sophomore at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Massachusetts, where she's studying architecture and interior design. She was raised in a town called Saugus, just outside Boston, where days before we had talked, her dad was detained by ICE officers. Tell me a little bit about your dad. What is his name? How old is he? And what does he do?

Ayla told me in 2001 her dad had settled here in Massachusetts as an undocumented immigrant. He'd come here from Brazil. This was three years before Ayla was born. Tell me about why he left Brazil.

Ayla told me in 2001 her dad had settled here in Massachusetts as an undocumented immigrant. He'd come here from Brazil. This was three years before Ayla was born. Tell me about why he left Brazil.

When he first got here, he lived with his aunt who was already here. But eventually he met Isla's mom, who was also from Brazil.

When he first got here, he lived with his aunt who was already here. But eventually he met Isla's mom, who was also from Brazil.

and they moved out on their own, with money Fabrizio made by working in construction.

and they moved out on their own, with money Fabrizio made by working in construction.

Even though he wasn't fluent in English, he had this way of connecting with people.

Even though he wasn't fluent in English, he had this way of connecting with people.

For as long as she can remember, Isla's wanted to be just like him.

For as long as she can remember, Isla's wanted to be just like him.

It sounds like you and your dad shared a special bond over your love of building things. So I wonder if you have like an early memory of him sharing that love of construction with you.

It sounds like you and your dad shared a special bond over your love of building things. So I wonder if you have like an early memory of him sharing that love of construction with you.

Isla says her dream is that her dad's company becomes a family company with her.

Isla says her dream is that her dad's company becomes a family company with her.

So fast forward to today, the dream that you described your dad having for you guys was in progress. Like you're in college, your dad is working hard at a business that he owns. When Trump was inaugurated on January 20th, did your family have conversations about what precautions you guys would take given that he was aggressively pursuing people without documentation?

So fast forward to today, the dream that you described your dad having for you guys was in progress. Like you're in college, your dad is working hard at a business that he owns. When Trump was inaugurated on January 20th, did your family have conversations about what precautions you guys would take given that he was aggressively pursuing people without documentation?