Iris Contreras, who was taken into custody back in February, is a single mother of three children who are American citizens and who said they suffered greatly…
Iris Contreras, who was taken into custody back in February, is a single mother of three children who are American citizens and who said they suffered greatly while she was detained and would suffer even more if she were to be deported.
A City Heights mother appeared in immigration court for the first time on Tuesday, after being detained outside her home in February. NBC 7’s Shelby Bremer has the update. A City Heights mother and community activist appeared in immigration court Tuesday for the first time since she was detained in front of her home in February.
On Feb. 23, Iris Contreras stepped outside to move her car when she was approached by federal agents who took her into custody, with neighbors capturing her arrest on video. Contreras has no criminal history, a pending immigration case and was given work authorization while she waits, according to her attorney, who said Contreras was also granted deferred action, which has long been prosecutorial discretion, basically shielding an individual from deportation.
“She has a RealID, she has Social Security, she’s a working person,” said Marcela Mercado, Contreras’ longtime friend through advocacy work in their neighborhood. “I was like, ‘How could they take someone like that? ’ ” When asked about Contreras’ case, ICE said in a statement, “She will receive full due process,” adding that the agency encourages “all illegal aliens” to self-deport.
Contreras was taken to the Otay Mesa Detention Center, and about a week after her arrest, a judge ordered her released on bond and with an ankle monitor. Contreras is a single mother of three children who are American citizens: Angeles, Esmeralda and Luis, who has special needs. The children said they suffered greatly while she was detained – the younger girls stepping in to care for Luis – and would suffer even more if she were to be deported.
“She's the health care provider, she's the mom, she's the therapist. , she's the cook, she's that moral support for Luis,” Mercado said.
“Not only for Luis — who's going to take care of Angeles? Who's going to take her to school? Who's going to take her to her therapies? Who's going to be there?
You can't replace a mom. ” “We saw news about the raids, but we never thought this would happen to our family,” Contreras said in Spanish.
“I saw so many families separated, and it hurt my heart, but I never thought it would happen to me, and going through that is something so painful that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. ” Contreras said she was calm as she prepared for the hearing in immigration court, placing her faith in God.
“I want justice more than anything,” Contreras said in Spanish, “because I’m not a criminal, like I’ve said from the beginning. ” Contreras, her family and a few friends attended the hearing at the federal building in downtown San Diego Tuesday afternoon, waiting more than two hours to enter the packed courtroom as the immigration judge called case after case.
Contreras’ hearing lasted about five minutes: Her attorney told the judge they planned to fight her deportation and the judge ruled that the Department of Homeland Security has 30 days to provide evidence that she is able to be deported, setting the next court date for Dec. 18.
“I’m feeling relieved, I’m feeling happy,” Contreras' daughter Angeles said. “What the lawyer’s saying is we don’t have to worry about anything right now, but I think when the court comes by again, we’re going to start feeling all the nerves again, but I really have a good feeling that things are going to turn out good.
” Contreras said she has anxiety and difficulty sleeping after her detention, as well as questions for the federal government carrying out this kind of enforcement.
“Why don’t they really go after the real criminals? ” Contreras asked in Spanish.
“This situation causes a lot of trauma for many families and should not be happening. I understand it’s their job. Still, we are all human beings. ”
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