U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski Seeks Answers After ICE Detains Collinsville Teens

The congresswoman says her office is gathering facts after learning three Collinsville residents were detained, including one believed to be just 16 years old.

Dan Brannan, Content Director

Jun 10, 2026 10:41 AM Jun 10, 2026 12:09 PM

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Jesus Alexis Cruz.

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COLLINSVILLE/MORRISONVILLE - Three Collinsville residents, including a 16-year-old and a pair of 19-year-olds, were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Morrisonville, Illinois, according to elected officials, prompting concern from U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, who said her office is seeking more information.

Officials identified those detained as Jesus Alexis Cruz, 16, Hector Cruz Sanchez, 19, and Jonathan Godoy, 19. The three teens lived in Collinsville at the time of their detention, according to the information provided. Jesus Alexis Cruz, 16, is shown above.

Budzinski said her office learned on June 9, 2026, that the three Collinsville residents were detained by ICE while on their way to work.

“On June 9, 2026, our office learned that three Collinsville residents were detained by ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while on their way to work. We understand that one of the individuals may be just 16 years old, which raises serious concerns. Our team is in contact with those close to the individuals and is working to gather additional information about their situation,” Budzinski said.

She said the detentions came two weeks after she visited the Ste. Genevieve, Mo., detention facility, where many individuals from Southern Illinois detained by ICE are often transferred.

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“This news comes just two weeks after my visit to the Ste. Genevieve detention facility, where many individuals from Southern Illinois detained by ICE are often transferred. As we continue to learn more, I will use every oversight tool available to demand transparency and seek answers,” Budzinski said.

Budzinski recently visited the Ste. Genevieve County Detention Center, an ICE contract facility, with U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell of Missouri. According to the information provided, the two members of Congress toured the facility and spoke with detainees who had been living in their respective districts.

“Over the last year, we’ve seen members of our community detained by ICE while going to work, picking up their kids, or simply going about their daily lives. Many of those individuals have been transferred to the Ste. Genevieve detention facility. As their representative, I have a responsibility to conduct oversight and see that these facilities are operating safely, humanely, and transparently,” Budzinski said.

“We heard concerns from detainees regarding some basic necessities, including access to medical care, which we have immediately elevated to facility leadership. We will continue to closely monitor conditions in detention facilities and pursue meaningful reforms to the current operations of ICE and CBP,” she said.

Bell said his visit to the detention center was part of his oversight role.

“As a Member of Congress and the House Oversight Committee, and as a former prosecutor and public defender, I’m committed to conducting oversight to ensure DHS and ICE are operating humanely and according to their written standards,” Bell said.

“Speaking to detainees and witnessing the conditions of the Ste. Genevieve County Jail, where detainees from Missouri’s First District are often sent, was exactly what I expected: these facilities were not designed for this use, but for incarceration. Many of these individuals are here working jobs, raising families and following the rules. They did not break the law and were appearing at their asylum or immigration hearings as instructed — and they were detained anyway,” Bell said.

Budzinski has also continued to advocate for changes to ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection operations. According to the information provided, she recently became a cosponsor of the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in ICE and CBP Custody Act, legislation aimed at strengthening oversight and improving conditions for people held in federal immigration custody.

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