Wednesday morning, Daniela Vargas spoke at a press conference about her fears of deportation after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) swept across Central Mississippi last week.
Following the press conference, Vargas was detained.
Vargas had said during the press conference that she came to America with her parents at seven years old. Now twenty-two, Vargas’s Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (DACA) paperwork has expired.
ICE released a statement regarding Vargas’s detainment, saying she was “an unlawfully present Argentinian citizen,” and that she was detained “during a targeted immigration enforcement action.”
She was picked up at a traffic stop following the event.
Congressman Bennie Thompson in D.C. said that he’s not so sure this was routine.
“Our country must have immigration policies that are constitutional and remain true to our values. Ms. Vargas appears to have committed no crime and was only speaking out on behalf of her family, who is threatened by this President’s misguided immigration agenda. ICE’s assertion that her detention is “routine” is absurd and seems anything but,” said Thompson.
“Clearly, ICE resources used in this case would have been better utilized to find and detain dangerous criminals and get them off our streets. As a DACA recipient she should be allowed to stay here. Those like Ms. Vargas just want a better life for themselves and their families and are true believers in the American dream – they should not be pushed further into the shadows.”
