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Riccy Enriquez Perdomo, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and mom detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over a week ago after attempting to post bond for another detained immigrant, was released and reunited with her family, including two U.S. citizen children, Thursday evening:
ICE confirmed Thursday that after learning she is covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy, or DACA, she would be freed.
The mother of two was brought to the United State illegally from Honduras at the age of 9.
Now 22, Perdomo said she leaned on her faith during her detainment, not knowing whether or not she was going to be deported.
"Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't because I have my Lord, I have faith in my Lord. I knew he was going to do something for me and my family," Perdomo said.
Despite the joyous images of Perdomo and her family, she has valid DACA status and should never have been arrested the first place. It was ICE’s fault that their system indicated Perdomo’s DACA status had expired in March, when in fact it had been renewed in late January, as she repeatedly insisted to them. Only after she had been detained for days did ICE finally admit her DACA was current.
And, Perdomo’s fight doesn’t appear to be over just yet, because according to immigrant rights group America’s Voice, ICE has told her to come back in October. “Why is a Dreamer who has DACA protection being told to not leave the state and come back for check-in?”
WCPO Cinncinati:
At least two other DACA recipients have been detained since President Trump took office. Like Enriquez, they were eventually released.
"How many of those (people protected under DACA) are in danger of coming in contact with police and them getting deported? It's great to have her back, but we have to say with the bigger picture, why did this happen in the first place?" [Brother-in-law Robert] Cole said.
[Attorney Charleston] Wang filed a petition for Habeas Corpus and Emergency Motion for Stay in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Kentucky.
"The arrest, detention and effort to remove (Enriquez) who has been granted DACA status violates Due Process, especially when she is not under a final order of removal in her own capacity," Wang said.
Wang called Enriquez's arrest "low-hanging fruit for removal."
The future of DACA remains perilous due to threats from Republicans. Immigrant youth are pledging to
“fight like hell” to defend the program, and all who call themselves immigrant rights allies need to stand by them, and Riccy.