A San Diego family is speaking out after Genaro Careto, an undocumented father with no criminal history, was arrested by ICE in front of his two young children while taking them to school. His family is devastated, questioning why the arrest unfolded in such a traumatic manner.

Careto, who fled violence in Guatemala two years ago, brought his three children—Eugenia, Bilver, and Crystal—to the U.S. to seek asylum. His five-year-old daughter, Eugenia, expressed her heartbreak through a drawing, writing, “Papi, I love you, and I feel sad.”

The arrest happened Wednesday morning on Dwight Street in City Heights. Careto initially thought he was being stopped by local police but quickly realized it was Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His niece, Evelyn Leyva, who is in the U.S. legally, rushed to the scene.

“I saw Eugenia shaking, and Genaro looked at me—his eyes were screaming, help me,” Leyva recalled. The children described seeing agents with covered faces forcibly handcuffing their father, causing pain to his hands.

Careto is now being held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center. ICE provided a general statement, saying the agency conducts routine enforcement operations but declined to comment on Careto’s specific case.

His arrest comes as ICE detention centers reach capacity, with nearly 33,000 arrests since President Donald Trump’s inauguration, according to federal data. Of those detained, 26% have no criminal charges or convictions.

“My dad isn’t a delinquent,” said Careto’s oldest daughter. “He gets up early to work and make sure we are okay.” Leyva, who experienced her own father’s deportation as a child, said, “It marks your heart forever.”

Now, the family is left waiting for Careto’s immigration hearing on March 24, hoping for a chance to reunite.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.

San Diego Family Speaks Out After Father Arrested by ICE in Front of His Children