Caught in the Middle: How a Winooski Second-Grader Ended Up in Texas Detention Amidst Conflicting Stories

While the situation is emotionally charged, a closer look at the facts reveals a complex scenario where a child has been caught in the machinery of border enforcement, seemingly due to adult decisions

For the community of Winooski, the week following Thanksgiving began with a disturbing absence: a second-grade student’s desk was empty. What followed was a rapid-fire sequence of press releases, emotional pleas, and contradictory reports that have left many Vermonters confused about how a seven-year-old boy went from a holiday road trip to a federal detention center in Texas.

While the situation is emotionally charged, a closer look at the facts reveals a complex scenario where a child has been caught in the machinery of border enforcement, seemingly due to adult decisions that were not initially presented accurately to the school district.

The Initial Narrative: A “Wrong Turn” on Thanksgiving

The alarm was first raised by the Winooski School District. According to officials, the boy’s father—who remained in Vermont—reported that his wife and son had gone missing during a trip to visit relatives in the Midwest. The narrative shared by Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria was one of an innocent navigational error: the mother had made a “wrong turn,” accidentally ended up at the border, and was subsequently detained.

Based on this information, the district rallied to the family’s defense. Superintendent Chavarria, citing his own experience with border agents, called for their immediate release, framing the event as the unjust “snatching” of a student who belonged in his classroom.

The Federal Account: A Different Reality at Highgate Springs

However, as federal reports surfaced, the “wrong turn” narrative collided with geographic and procedural realities. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) logs, the arrest did not happen on a road leading to the Midwest. It occurred at the Highgate Springs Port of Entry, located 38 miles due north of Winooski at the terminus of Interstate 89.

Federal authorities stated that the vehicle, containing the mother, the child, and an unidentified adult male, had actually entered Canada. They were refused entry by Canadian authorities and ordered to return to the U.S.. Upon their return to the U.S. inspection booth, CBP officers discovered the occupants were in possession of fraudulent documents, specifically a counterfeit Lawful Permanent Resident card (Green Card) and a fake Social Security card.

Understanding “Direct Backs” and Document Fraud

For the average Vermonter, it is important to understand that you are not usually detained simply for getting lost near the border. The detention was triggered by two specific factors: the rejection from Canada and the possession of fake federal IDs.

Under the Safe Third Country Agreement and Canadian regulations, travelers denied entry are legally directed back to the U.S. When the family arrived back at Highgate Springs, they were treated as “arriving aliens.” The discovery of the bogus papers escalated the situation from a civil immigration issue to a potential criminal matter, as the use of fraudulent visas or permits is a violation of federal law.

The Mystery of the Third Adult

Perhaps the most confusing element of the story—and the one that casts doubt on the “visiting relatives” explanation—is the presence of a third adult in the car. While the school was communicating with the boy’s father in Winooski, the mother and child were traveling with another man.

This unidentified man was also detained at the border but was separated from the family and turned over to ICE for further investigation. His identity remains unconfirmed, but his presence suggests the trip was not a simple family vacation as originally described to school officials.

The Return of Family Detention

Following the arrest, the mother and seven-year-old were transferred to a family residential center in Texas. This reflects a shift in immigration policy in late 2025. The administration has moved to reopen and expand facilities like the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.

While authorities emphasize that the family has not been separated, these facilities are the subject of intense scrutiny. Public health experts have noted that children in these centers often face physical and mental harms, and critics argue that the environment is unsuitable for minors, despite being labeled as “residential” centers.

What Happens Next?

The seven-year-old Winooski student and his mother currently remain in federal custody in Texas. Their future depends on the legal process regarding the fraudulent documents. Because possession of a fake Green Card is a felony, the mother faces significant legal hurdles that could lead to deportation, regardless of how long the family has lived in Vermont.

Meanwhile, in Winooski, the school district is left to grapple with the reality that the information they initially provided to the public was factually incorrect. As the second Trump administration hardens enforcement policies, this case serves as a somber example of how quickly a local family can become entangled in the federal immigration system, leaving a young child caught in the middle of a situation he likely does not understand.