PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Oregon woman who has been held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement since January was released Friday morning.
The court found that an immigration judge violated Maria Loya Medina’s constitutional due process rights when it previously denied her release on bond, and ordered her immediate release at 5 p.m. Thursday. She was not let out until the next morning.
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“While ICE operates a 24/7 arrest machine, it only bothers to comply with the Constitution and court orders during banker’s hours,” said Stephen Manning, an attorney at Innovation Law Lab and co-counsel on the case.
Medina had been detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Wash. since January, when federal agents allegedly surrounded her car in a parking lot while she was shopping for socks for her son. They smashed her window even as she was attempting to cooperate.
According to court documents, Medina is a citizen of Mexico who has resided in the U.S. since 2005. Her husband had a stroke in December, and continues to require ongoing care. Medina is also the sole caregiver for their two children, ages 14 and 16.
Speaking in Spanish, Medina’s husband said their family is grateful his wife got the justice she deserved, and that they will now be complete with her at home.
Medina lives in Albany has no criminal record. She works as a house cleaner. Since her detention, her daughter has been diagnosed with depression and her son has taken on caregiving responsibilities for his sister and their father, who is still recovering from heart surgery since his stroke in December. Both children are still in high school.
Congresswoman Suzanna Bonamici, who visited Medina while she was at the detention center, said she’s glad she’s finally home with her family and can begin to recover.
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“Like too many others across the country, Maria has had her life completely disrupted by the President’s illegal and aggressive tactics,” the congresswoman said. “I will continue to fight these inhumane policies and actions with policy and protest and in the legal system.”
While she is no longer being detained and has returned to her home with her family, Medina’s immigration case remains on appeal.
A spokesperson from ICE did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
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