Arrested by ICE: Survivor of Lahaina Fire Faces Immigration Enforcement

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In the quiet town of Lahaina, Hawaii, a community is coming together in support of Sergio Haro, a local figure who lost his home and business in the devastating wildfires of August 8, 2023. Tragically, the fires claimed the lives of 102 people.

Amidst the tragedy, another story has emerged. Sergio Haro, a devoted husband, father of three daughters, and proud grandfather, all of whom live in Hawaii and have legal status, is currently being detained by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The exact details of his arrest on August 8, 2025, are not publicly known.

Sergio Haro came to the U.S. as a minor 20 years ago and has since become an integral part of the community. He gathered the Latino community every Sunday for soccer games and taught martial arts to children, often waiving the cost for families who couldn't pay.

His daughter, Stephanie Haro Sevilla, is a shining example of resilience and determination. A Lahainaluna High School graduate and 2023 law school graduate from the University of Hawaii's William S. Richardson School of Law, Stephanie has dedicated her career to advocating for immigrants.

Stephanie's work includes researching the impact of family separations at the southern border, creating and managing the statewide immigration detention hotline in Hawaii, and her current role as a postgraduate fellow and immigrant advocate at the Refugee and Immigration Law Clinic at UH. Before her work as a fellow, she served as a law clerk for Oahu Circuit Court Judge Rowena A. Somerville, primarily working on criminal cases.

In a twist of irony, Stephanie, a "Dreamer and former DACA recipient," is now fighting for her father's right to stay in the country. Despite verbal assurances from President Donald Trump in December that Dreamers would be left out of his mass deportations, he has since slowed the processes allowing them to remain in the U.S.

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are working to fulfill President Trump's campaign promise to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history. As of June 11, federal agents had made 117 administrative arrests this year in Hawaii, but the details of these arrests have not been made public.

Sergio Haro is a part of a class-action lawsuit seeking damages, filed on Aug. 5, 2025. Despite having no federal or state of Hawaii criminal record, he remains in detention.

In the face of adversity, the community of Lahaina continues to rally around the Haro family. Their story serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of immigration policies on real families and the resilience of those affected.