Immigration advocates protest in favor of DACA recipient arrested early August
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Migrant advocates gathered outside DHS headquarters in East El Paso to speak up for Catalina "Xóchitl" Santiago, who was arrested by federal authorities on August 3.
"Catalina Santiago Santiago, a 28-year-old Mexican national, is currently in ICE custody. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested her Aug. 3 at the El Paso International Airport and remanded her to our custody. This was not Santiago’s first brush with immigration officials; she first entered illegally in May 2005, near the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso. On Aug. 31, 2020, she was charged with two drug offenses, which are still pending," said Leticia Zamarripa, spokeswoman with ICE El Paso.
According to ICE, Santiago still has DACA status, which is set to expire April 29, 2026.
"It’s important to note that DHS officials can take enforcement actions against illegal aliens with criminal records," ICE El Paso added.
When Santiago was arrested, ICE officials served her with a notice to appear before a Department of Justice immigration judge.
She will remain in ICE custody at the El Paso Service Processing Center pending her immigration proceedings.
After Santiago's first court appearance, a federal immigration judge rescheduled her hearing for September 10th.
ABC-7 asked Santiago's attorney, Norma Islas, about the pending charges that she has.
"I spoke to the Justice of the Peace Court in Arizona, who explained that those charges were never filed; yes, she was arrested, but those charges were never filed," attorney Islas said. "So it wasn't even a case then and until now it has not been reopened."
