Marisa and her three daughters had just moved from Maryland to Oklahoma City, hoping for a fresh, peaceful life. But just two weeks after settling into their new home, their calm was shattered in the worst way. One early morning, about 20 armed men burst into their house. It was dark, the lights were off, and they had no idea what was going on.
Marisa said the men showed up with guns and said they were from ICE, the FBI, and U.S. Marshals. They said they had a warrant, but the names on the warrant didn’t match anyone in the family. The names were actually from people who lived there before. Despite that, they forced Marisa and her daughters outside in the rain, barely dressed, without even letting them grab extra clothes. One of her daughters was standing out in her underwear — something even her dad hadn’t seen before, out of respect.
Confused and Treated Like Criminals
Marisa kept telling the agents that she and her daughters are U.S. citizens and had nothing to do with the people named in the warrant. But the officers didn’t seem to care. They treated the family like they were criminals, searching the whole house and taking their phones, laptops, and even the little cash they had saved. Marisa was left wondering how she would feed her kids or get around without her things.
It was clear this was a huge mix-up, but the family had no choice but to just stand there and watch it happen. Marisa said, “I told them, I just moved here. I have no money, no phone. How am I supposed to feed my kids or get around? It felt like they abandoned us like dogs.”
Mixed Messages from Officials Add to Confusion
The U.S. Marshals Service said they weren’t part of the raid, only that they knew it was going to happen. The FBI said they helped with the operation but told questions to go to Homeland Security. So no one is really clear on who did what. To make it worse, the agents didn’t leave any contact info or paperwork behind, leaving Marisa unsure how to get back her stuff.
This back-and-forth has only made the family feel more lost and scared. They are still trying to figure out what to do next while dealing with all the trauma from being treated this way.
The Emotional Toll and Uncertain Future
Marisa keeps asking herself what would have happened if she had reacted differently or if she had been armed. “I thought we were being robbed or that someone was trying to kidnap my daughters,” she said. It’s hard for her to understand why her family was treated like this when they’ve done nothing wrong and are citizens.
She expressed how painful it is, saying, “We bleed too. We’re scared too. Why aren’t our lives, our peace, worth the same?” The family was told it could take days or even months to get their things back, but right now, the emotional damage feels like it will last much longer.
Marisa shared how one agent finally admitted, “It was a little rough this morning.” But for her and her daughters, it was a lot more than rough — it was traumatizing.
What’s Next?
This was supposed to be a new start for the family. Instead, it turned into a confusing, frightening experience that no one expected. They’re now stuck waiting for answers, hoping for justice, and trying to heal. Their story raises serious questions about how mistakes like this happen and what needs to change to make sure no one else has to go through something like this.
