Young Guatemalan Mother Faces Immigration Dilemma After Childbirth in Tucson
Phoenix, Arizona – A young Guatemalan woman, Erika Odalis Mateo Rodas, 24, is navigating a precarious situation after nearly facing immediate deportation following the birth of her American daughter, Emily, in Tucson.
Just days after her delivery, Mateo Rodas embarked on a journey to Tennessee, assisted by a friend, as her immigration attorney, Luis Campos, prepared her case for asylum. Mateo Rodas, who walked for two days in the desert during her pregnancy, was initially arrested by Border Patrol agents after illegally crossing the border and was under scrutiny in a Tucson hospital, which drew public outcry and protests.
As public officials, including Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs, questioned her treatment, Mateo Rodas was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and placed in an Alternatives to Detention program. Campos noted a significant change in her deportation status, as she is now allowed to proceed with a regular asylum case in immigration court.
Despite assurances that her American-born daughter will not be deported, Campos highlighted the daunting possibility that Mateo Rodas could face the painful decision of leaving her daughter behind if her asylum claim fails. “It’s going to be a tough decision,” Campos stated, expressing hope for a positive outcome in her case.
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