Monica shares her story with Shaira Arias from NBC10 Philadelphia
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Monica shares her story with Shaira Arias from NBC10 Philadelphia.
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Transcript:
Delco nurse detained by ICE at LAX during family trip to Disneyland
Monica Ryadi says she spent two weeks in ICE detention after being separated from her husband and 3-year-old son at LAX.
By Shaira Arias • Published October 8, 2026 • Updated on October 8, 2026 at 11:35 pm
A Delaware County nurse says ICE detained her at LAX during a family vacation to Disneyland, and she was separated from her family for two weeks. She shares her story with NBC10’s Shaira Arias.
A Delaware County nurse says a long-awaited family trip to Disneyland turned into a nightmare when federal immigration agents detained her at Los Angeles International Airport, separating her from her husband and 3-year-old son.
Monica Ryadi, 30, says she spent two weeks in a California immigration detention center after being taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sept. 15, 2026.
"All I thought was, 'I don't know when is the next time I'm going to see my son?'" Ryadi said. "That's all I could think about. Just him, you know, like, him without a mom and my husband as well."
Ryadi, who came to the United States from Indonesia as a child, says she believed she was legally protected from deportation. But the Department of Homeland Security says she overstayed her authorization to remain in the country and was issued a final order of removal in 2010.
Her attorney disputes the agency's characterization of her immigration status and says he plans to pursue legal avenues to secure her permanent residency.
A family vacation interrupted by ICE Monica Ryadi says she, her husband, and their young son were beginning a long-awaited trip to Disneyland when ICE agents took her into custody at LAX.
"They handcuffed me, and they put a chain around my waist, and I had to walk around with cuffed ankles in public. People were staring at me. I was made to feel like a criminal," she explained.
She remained in detention for approximately two weeks before being released and reunited with her family.
But Ryadi says the experience has left lasting emotional effects, particularly on her young son.
"We're living under this state of hypervigilance and fear and, like, nothing feels normal anymore," according to Ryadi.
Ryadi's immigration history and DHS's response: Monica Ryadi says she arrived in the United States from Indonesia when she was 9 years old after her family fled religious persecution.
According to Ryadi, her family entered the country legally on visas.
In 2010, she was granted withholding of removal, a form of immigration protection that can prevent someone from being deported to a country where they could face persecution.
Since then, Ryadi says she has built her life in the United States.
She graduated from the Academy at Palumbo in Philadelphia, earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University, and became a nurse, a career she says she chose because she wanted to help others.
Ryadi says she has maintained work authorization, obtained a REAL ID and Social Security number, and purchased a home.
"This whole time I thought I was safe. I'm lawfully here with withholding of removal since 2010. I have work authorization. I have a Real ID, Social Security. I bought a house," she said.
DHS, however, provided a different account of Ryadi's immigration history in a statement to NBC10.
"On September 15, ICE arrested Monica Ryadi, an illegal alien from Indonesia, during a targeted enforcement operation at Los Angeles International Airport. She entered the country legally in December 2005, with permission to stay in the country until June 29, 2006. In violation of our nation’s laws, she overstayed her welcome. She received due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2010. On September 29, 2026, a judge released her with alternatives to detention with a GPS monitor pending her removal from the country," a spokesperson with DHS wrote in a statement to NBC10.
According to the agency, Ryadi entered the United States legally in 2005 and was authorized to remain until June 29, 2006, but overstayed that authorization.
DHS says Ryadi was afforded due process and received a final order of removal from an immigration judge in 2010.
The agency also says a judge ordered her release on Sept. 29, 2026, under an alternative-to-detention program requiring GPS monitoring while she awaits removal from the country.
Attorney disputes DHS's account: Monica Ryadi's attorney, Eric Rosenfeld of R&G Legal Solutions, disputes DHS's characterization of his client's immigration status.
"She is lawfully present in the United States," Rosenfeld said.
He argues that Ryadi's current order of supervision allows her to remain lawfully in the country despite the removal order.
"She is under an order of supervision right now," Rosenfeld explained. "DHS has indicated she overstayed her welcome. That's false. You cannot overstay an order of withholding for removal."
Rosenfeld also pushed back against the agency's suggestion that Ryadi should no longer be in the United States.
"They said she is not welcome in the United States. That is not a legal argument. I can say the President of the United States is not welcome here. It doesn't change his ability to be here. Neither does it change Monica's ability," Rosenfeld said.
Legal fight continues after emotional reunion. After two weeks in detention, Ryadi was finally reunited with her husband and son.
"I thought I was dreaming," she said of their reunion.
Although she is back home, Ryadi says she continues to worry about other immigrant families facing similar uncertainty.
"Unfortunately, it's a frightening time that we are living in, but don't let fear silence you," she said.
Meanwhile, Rosenfeld says his legal team is preparing to take additional steps to secure Ryadi's ability to remain permanently in the United States.
"The next steps will involve going on the offensive in court. We have several affirmative steps that we can take," Rosenfeld said.
Ryadi is scheduled to attend her next ICE check-in during the week of Oct. 12.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
A Delaware County nurse says ICE detained her at LAX during a family vacation to Disneyland, and she was separated from her family for two weeks. She shares her story with NBC10’s Shaira Arias.
A Delaware County nurse says a long-awaited family trip to Disneyland turned into a nightmare when federal immigration agents detained her at Los Angeles International Airport, separating her from her husband and 3-year-old son.
Monica Ryadi, 30, says she spent two weeks in a California immigration detention center after being taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Sept. 15, 2026.
"All I thought was, 'I don't know when is the next time I'm going to see my son?'" Ryadi said. "That's all I could think about. Just him, you know, like, him without a mom and my husband as well."
Ryadi, who came to the United States from Indonesia as a child, says she believed she was legally protected from deportation. But the Department of Homeland Security says she overstayed her authorization to remain in the country and was issued a final order of removal in 2010.
Her attorney disputes the agency's characterization of her immigration status and says he plans to pursue legal avenues to secure her permanent residency.
A family vacation interrupted by ICE Monica Ryadi says she, her husband, and their young son were beginning a long-awaited trip to Disneyland when ICE agents took her into custody at LAX.
"They handcuffed me, and they put a chain around my waist, and I had to walk around with cuffed ankles in public. People were staring at me. I was made to feel like a criminal," she explained.
She remained in detention for approximately two weeks before being released and reunited with her family.
But Ryadi says the experience has left lasting emotional effects, particularly on her young son.
"We're living under this state of hypervigilance and fear and, like, nothing feels normal anymore," according to Ryadi.
Ryadi's immigration history and DHS's response: Monica Ryadi says she arrived in the United States from Indonesia when she was 9 years old after her family fled religious persecution.
According to Ryadi, her family entered the country legally on visas.
In 2010, she was granted withholding of removal, a form of immigration protection that can prevent someone from being deported to a country where they could face persecution.
Since then, Ryadi says she has built her life in the United States.
She graduated from the Academy at Palumbo in Philadelphia, earned a bachelor's degree from Ohio University, and became a nurse, a career she says she chose because she wanted to help others.
Ryadi says she has maintained work authorization, obtained a REAL ID and Social Security number, and purchased a home.
"This whole time I thought I was safe. I'm lawfully here with withholding of removal since 2010. I have work authorization. I have a Real ID, Social Security. I bought a house," she said.
DHS, however, provided a different account of Ryadi's immigration history in a statement to NBC10.
"On September 15, ICE arrested Monica Ryadi, an illegal alien from Indonesia, during a targeted enforcement operation at Los Angeles International Airport. She entered the country legally in December 2005, with permission to stay in the country until June 29, 2006. In violation of our nation’s laws, she overstayed her welcome. She received due process and was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge in 2010. On September 29, 2026, a judge released her with alternatives to detention with a GPS monitor pending her removal from the country," a spokesperson with DHS wrote in a statement to NBC10.
According to the agency, Ryadi entered the United States legally in 2005 and was authorized to remain until June 29, 2006, but overstayed that authorization.
DHS says Ryadi was afforded due process and received a final order of removal from an immigration judge in 2010.
The agency also says a judge ordered her release on Sept. 29, 2026, under an alternative-to-detention program requiring GPS monitoring while she awaits removal from the country.
Attorney disputes DHS's account: Monica Ryadi's attorney, Eric Rosenfeld of R&G Legal Solutions, disputes DHS's characterization of his client's immigration status.
"She is lawfully present in the United States," Rosenfeld said.
He argues that Ryadi's current order of supervision allows her to remain lawfully in the country despite the removal order.
"She is under an order of supervision right now," Rosenfeld explained. "DHS has indicated she overstayed her welcome. That's false. You cannot overstay an order of withholding for removal."
Rosenfeld also pushed back against the agency's suggestion that Ryadi should no longer be in the United States.
"They said she is not welcome in the United States. That is not a legal argument. I can say the President of the United States is not welcome here. It doesn't change his ability to be here. Neither does it change Monica's ability," Rosenfeld said.
Legal fight continues after emotional reunion. After two weeks in detention, Ryadi was finally reunited with her husband and son.
"I thought I was dreaming," she said of their reunion.
Although she is back home, Ryadi says she continues to worry about other immigrant families facing similar uncertainty.
"Unfortunately, it's a frightening time that we are living in, but don't let fear silence you," she said.
Meanwhile, Rosenfeld says his legal team is preparing to take additional steps to secure Ryadi's ability to remain permanently in the United States.
"The next steps will involve going on the offensive in court. We have several affirmative steps that we can take," Rosenfeld said.
Ryadi is scheduled to attend her next ICE check-in during the week of Oct. 12.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
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