An undocumented Buda resident who has been in Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody for months is fighting to obtain status as a refugee in an effort to stay with her family.
Janelie Rodriguez, 25, is checking off another month in her stay at the South Texas Detention Center in Pearsall and adding another trial date to her schedule. Rodriguez was granted a $7,500 bond earlier this month, giving her the chance to go home to be with her family and delay her trial and move it to another court.
However, ICE intervened later that day with an appeal citing Rodriguez’s mental health as a danger to society. Rodriguez remains in custody, but her attorney Chito Vela is arguing the appeal and preparing to file an asylum application to grant Janelie Rodriguez freedom to stay indefinitely, or until conditions in Mexico are considered safe for her to return.
