Josefina came to the bridge seeking asylum with her three-year-old son on December 29, 2017. Immigration forcibly separated them and is refusing to release and reunite Josefina with her son because she has a prior in absentia deportation order from 2004 when she was not even in the U.S. She has passed a credible fear interview proving that she has a significant possibility of winning her case. She is not a flight risk or danger to the community so there is no reason that she needs to remain separated from her now four-year-old son, deprived of her liberty.
Why is this important?
On July 31, 2018, the Migrant Center received a form letter denying her release without any explanation. However, in response to a media inquiry, on July 20, 2018, ICE told the press that they were keeping her in detention due to the prior removal order.
