A Mother's Nightmare: ICE Detention Rocks Family Over Green Card Dispute

In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a long-time Washington state employee and devoted mother of two, Luz Rodriguez, finds herself entangled in a bewildering immigration ordeal. The 45-year-old Everett resident was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on February 13 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, just as she was returning from a family trip to Mexico.

Rodriguez, a legal permanent resident of the United States for decades and a dedicated employee of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) for 16 years, holds an I-797 notice.

This crucial document, issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), typically extends the validity of an expiring green card, allowing the holder to maintain their legal status while a renewal application is processed. Despite this, ICE claims her conditional permanent resident status was terminated in September because she allegedly failed to timely file her I-751 (Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence).

Her partner, Joe Salazar, staunchly refutes this claim, asserting that the application was filed on time and that the I-797 notice should have been honored by ICE, a standard practice according to their own policy.

This discrepancy has left the family reeling, with Rodriguez now held indefinitely at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, miles away from her two U.S. citizen children, aged 14 and 16.

The family's anguish is palpable. They are not only fighting for Luz's freedom but also struggling to cope with the emotional and financial strain of her absence.

They emphasize that Luz has diligently followed all procedures, making her detention an inexplicable and unjust situation.

The case has garnered significant attention, with U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Representative Rick Larsen stepping in to demand answers from ICE. Senator Murray issued a strong statement, urging ICE to immediately release Ms.

Rodriguez, highlighting that she has complied with all procedures and her status was automatically extended by the I-797. This legislative intervention underscores the serious questions being raised about the handling of such cases and the human cost involved.

As the family holds onto hope for her swift release, they've initiated a fundraiser to help cover the mounting legal fees and support her children during this profoundly challenging period.

Luz Rodriguez's plight serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and often devastating impacts of immigration policies on individuals and families who have built their lives in the U.S. and diligently followed all legal pathways.