Nursing Mother of 2, Including One with Down Syndrome, Arrested by ICE in Nashville as She Seeks Asylum From Domestic Violence
Advocates say agents arrested Maria Perez while she was taking her children to a medical visit and later moved her nearly 700 miles away.
- ICE agents arrested Guatemalan asylum seeker Maria Perez in Nashville in May, transferring her nearly 700 miles to the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, separating her from her two young children.
- Perez fled "extreme domestic violence" in Guatemala, said Katie Blankenship, founder of Sanctuary of the South. Agents arrested her without a warrant while she was preparing to take her children to a medical appointment.
- ICE policy directs against arresting nursing mothers absent exceptional circumstances. Advocates allege agents violated this directive, as Perez is nursing a 10-month-old and caring for a 2-year-old with Down syndrome.
- On Wednesday, the ACLU, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, and other groups filed a complaint with the DHS Office of the Inspector General demanding Perez's immediate release to her children.
- Attorneys filed a habeas petition and humanitarian parole request for Perez. While the 2021 ICE policy remains in effect, advocates report increasing numbers of nursing women are being detained by the agency.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Nursing mother separated from infant, toddler with Down syndrome after Tennessee ICE detention
The woman, identified in court filings by the pseudonym “Maria Perez” because of concerns for her safety, was detained as she prepared to take her children to a medical appointment, her attorneys said. She is now being held at an immigration detention facility in Louisiana while her 10-month-old infant and 2-year-old son with Down syndrome remain in Tennessee.
ICE separated Nashville mom from infant daughter against its own rules, complaint alleges
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested a nursing mother from her Nashville home without a warrant, according to a complaint by immigrant advocates. ICE agents have a directive not to arrest people who are pregnant, post-partum or nursing “except under exceptional circumstances.” The complaint alleges that ICE broke that directive when they arrested the woman, separating her from her infant daughter and toddler. MORE: Nashville …
Nursing mother of 2, including one with Down syndrome, arrested by ICE in Nashville as she seeks asylum from domestic violence
A breastfeeding mother of two children, including one who has Down syndrome, was arrested by ICE in Nashville while taking her children to the doctor.
Two adults detained by ICE at Emigrant Lake released after legal petition
ASHLAND, Ore. – Community organization RV Migra Watch has reported that two adults were released hours after being detained by ICE this past weekend in Jackson County. NBC5 spoke to an immigration attorney to break down the case, detainees’ rights, and the recent surge of ICE operations in the Rogue Valley. RV Migra Watch, a local […] The post Two adults detained by ICE at Emigrant Lake released after legal petition appeared first on KOBI-TV NBC…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
