Polish woman Mariola detained in US immigration jail for 33 days, alleges ICE targeted pregnant women and asylum seekers.
Polish Woman Detained by ICE in the USA
Kanał Zero published an interview with a Polish woman who was detained by ICE in the USA. According to Mrs. Mariola (name changed), she was driving to work when she noticed someone following her. She was stopped on a one-way street with no witnesses, where two men asked for her documents and informed her they had information about her and needed to take her to an immigration detention center.
The woman was taken into custody on December 16. She was placed in a large cell with three other women from South America who did not speak English, making communication difficult. The cell contained two concrete benches, two metal toilets, and cameras. After spending about an hour there, officials took her fingerprints, conducted an interview, and performed a DNA test. She was allowed to call her lawyer and was presented with her rights, choosing between deportation or a meeting with a judge.
“Girl in Sixth Month of Pregnancy Taken from the Doctor”
Initially, the meeting with the judge was scheduled for the end of May, then moved to January 8. However, all hearings were cancelled after an ICE officer shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis the day before. The meeting was rescheduled for January 15.
Mrs. Mariola reported that other women, mostly from South America and Africa, who are legally in the US with asylum status, have also been detained. She described several cases: a woman in her sixth month of pregnancy taken from her doctor’s office; a mother of two who refused to open her door (despite ICE having a warrant) and whose windows were broken to gain entry; and a Haitian woman in her ninth month of pregnancy who gave birth in prison. The Haitian woman’s child was with her for three months but was eventually taken into the system, while she works to have her family care for the child.
Polish Woman Spends 33 Days in Jail Amid Family Report
The judge eventually allowed the Polish woman to be released on $2,000 bail after spending 33 days in jail. According to Mrs. Mariola, ICE officials who arrested her mentioned they had received information about her, which she believes is related to the death of her former husband.
Her American husband never provided her with a green card during their six years of marriage, despite her love and belief that things would improve. The woman was detained five days after her husband’s death and suspects that someone from his family filed a report against her.
