‘Separated by ICE’: The harrowing story behind the World Press Photo of the Year

The World Press Photo Foundation has named “Separated by ICE” as its 2025 Photo of the Year. Taken by Carol Guzy, the image depicts an Ecuadorian migrant named Luis being detained in New York while his young daughters cling to him. 

Despite having no criminal record, Luis’s detention left his wife and three children in emotional trauma and financial hardship. 

The photograph was selected from over 57,000 entries submitted by photographers worldwide. Judges praised the photo for its raw intensity, noting that it underscores the devastating personal consequences of current immigration enforcement policies.

Global jury chair Kira Pollack described the image as a stark record of reality: “The Photo of the Year is evidence. It's proof, and it's a record of ground zero where a family is being separated and a father is being detained and taken away. And it's the moments before the unknown. This is a record of, quite literally, a disappearance.”

She added: “This picture is chaotic. It's terrifying. It captures a very genuine expression of fear, terror, uncertainty and powerlessness. And what brings me into the picture, of course, are the daughters’ faces, trying to keep their father from being torn away. It allows us to look in. We cannot unsee it.”

Guzy, who has spent years analyzing immigration impacts on families, said in a statement: “This photo should be painful to view, and I hope it stirs people out of any sense of complacency. This award underscores the critical importance of this story worldwide.”

“We bear witness to the suffering of countless families, but also to their grace, and resilience that transcends adversity and it's been quite humbling. Their courage to open up their lives to our cameras has allowed us to tell their stories. And certainly, this award belongs to them, not me.” she added.