Texas ICE detention: Pregnant woman held after immigration lawyer scam
Maria Alejandra Gomez-Quiroz, a 21-year-old pregnant woman, remains in federal immigration custody at the Dilley, Texas, detention center following a legal scam. Her family reports that they paid more than $3,000 to an individual posing as an immigration attorney. The individual provided a letter on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) letterhead claiming that Gomez-Quiroz’s bond had been approved by the Immigration Court and paid through authorized Department of Homeland Security methods.
Despite the letter, Gomez-Quiroz has been detained for over 40 days. She and her partner were reportedly fleeing violence in Colombia and intended to apply for asylum in the United States. Gomez-Quiroz was originally arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in June.
The incident occurs as lawmakers note that Gomez-Quiroz is one of four pregnant women currently held at the Dilley facility, which houses at least 500 detainees. Additionally, a federal district judge in California has ordered the appointment of a special master and an independent monitor to investigate the length of time individuals are held in custody at the Dilley facility.
Entities
Dilley, Texas · Kelly Ocampo · Maria Alejandra Gomez-Quiroz · U.S. Border Patrol · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Gomez-Quiroz has been detained at the Dilley, Texas facility for over 40 days. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Maria Alejandra Gomez-Quiroz was scammed by an individual posing as an immigration attorney. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The family paid more than $3,000 to the alleged lawyer. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The fraudulent letter used U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement letterhead. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Maria Alejandra Gomez-Quiroz is five months pregnant. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] A federal district judge in California ordered a special master to examine time in custody at the Dilley facility. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Gomez-Quiroz was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol in June. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] There are at least 500 people detained at the Dilley facility. abc30.com · abc11.com · abc13.com · abc7ny.com