ICE’s assertion that her detention is ‘routine’ is absurd and seems anything but. Those like Ms. Vargas just want a better life for themselves and their families.
— Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) reflecting on the arrest of undocumented immigrant Daniela Vargas, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Jackson, Mississippi. She was arrested immediately after a press conference where she spoke out against the president’s immigration policies. Vargas was granted a deportation reprieve under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program but let her status lapse as she was saving for the $495 renewal fee. Abby Peterson, Vargas’s attorney, said ICE officials told her Vargas would be deported without a court hearing.