H1B Visa Lawyer Blog
What is Family Detention? Family detention is the increasingly alarming practice of detaining immigrant families, including babies and children, with their parents in ICE detention centers across the country.
We urge everyone to sign the petition insisting that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) release Melida and her 4-year-old daughter, Estrella, from family detention. For 8 months they have been held in ICE’s Karnes County Residential Center. Melida also has a 10-year-old U.S. citizen daughter; a sister with a green card; and other U.S. citizen family and friends, all waiting for her in New York and willing to care for her while her case proceeds. The long-term detention has made Estrella chronically ill, resulting in her hospitalization. Melida is terrified of returning to Guatemala, where the family of the gang member who was convicted of murdering her sister-in-law wants retribution.
ICE has the authority to release her and her daughter, but so far has denied every request. If Prosecutorial Discretion means anything, it means that Melida and Estrella should be released. You can sign the MoveOn.org petition for ICE Director Saldana at http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-ice-to-release-melida?source=c.tw&r_by=13011783.
Source of Information:
MoveOn.org, Petition:
TELL ICE TO RELEASE MELIDA AND HER 4-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER FROM MORE THAN 8 MONTHS OF DETENTION!
AILA.org, 4/27/15, AILA Doc No. 15042760:
Take Action: Tell ICE To Exercise Prosecutorial Discretion and Release Melida and Her Daughter
AILA.org, 4/24/15, AILA Doc No. 12011164:
Detention and Family Detention
AILA.org, 4/29/15, AILA Doc No. 15042960:
Video: Snapshots from Family Detention – Melida’s Story