Photo of ICE separating an Ecuadoran family in New York wins World Press Photo of the Year

Thursday, April 23, 2026Rights & JusticeWell-covered5 frames

World Press Photo selected Carol Guzy’s photograph "Separated by ICE" as its 2026 Photo of the Year.
The image shows Luis, an Ecuadoran migrant, being detained by ICE after an immigration court hearing in New York while family members try to hold onto him.
The photograph was taken on Aug. 26, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City.
Guzy made the image for the Miami Herald, with multiple reports also identifying ZUMA Press and iWitness as part of the publication credit.
Multiple reports say the family shown includes Luis’s wife, Cocha, and their three children, and that the detention left the family facing immediate hardship because relatives described him as the household’s main provider.
The winning image was taken inside one of the few U.S. federal buildings where photographers were allowed access, which enabled Guzy and others to document arrests following immigration hearings.
The award highlights a broader photo project by Guzy from the New York courthouse documenting ICE arrests after hearings, not only a single isolated moment.
Some details about Luis’s legal and criminal history remain attributed rather than independently established in the coverage, with several outlets reporting that his family said he had no criminal record.

World Press Photo selected Carol Guzy’s photograph "Separated by ICE" as its 2026 Photo of the Year.
The image shows Luis, an Ecuadoran migrant, being detained by ICE after an immigration court hearing in New York while family members try to hold onto him.
The photograph was taken on Aug. 26, 2025, at the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building in New York City.
Guzy made the image for the Miami Herald, with multiple reports also identifying ZUMA Press and iWitness as part of the publication credit.
Multiple reports say the family shown includes Luis’s wife, Cocha, and their three children, and that the detention left the family facing immediate hardship because relatives described him as the household’s main provider.
The winning image was taken inside one of the few U.S. federal buildings where photographers were allowed access, which enabled Guzy and others to document arrests following immigration hearings.
The award highlights a broader photo project by Guzy from the New York courthouse documenting ICE arrests after hearings, not only a single isolated moment.
Some details about Luis’s legal and criminal history remain attributed rather than independently established in the coverage, with several outlets reporting that his family said he had no criminal record.