Federal immigration officials on Friday released the mother of an immigration activist, less than a day after the woman and another relative were arrested at the family's Phoenix-area home.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents "did not target" the relatives of activist Erika Andiola because of her role with the Dream Act Coalition, the agency said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
ICE officials also said Maria Arreola was released with an order of supervision, meaning she must check in periodically with the agency.
Andiola earlier said ICE agents told her that there was a long-pending deportation order for her mother, an immigrant from Mexico. Andiola questioned whether that actually prompted the arrest.
"They knew who I was and they know what I did," she said. "I'm really surprised that they came after my family because of the activism that I do."
Andiola's 53-year-old mother and a 35-year-old brother were arrested Thursday evening at the family home in Mesa.
Family members said the brother, Heriberto Andiola, was detained because he refused to answer ICE agents' questions.
The daughter said agents asked for her mother.
"The minute she got close to the door, they handcuffed her and they took her," the daughter said.
Heriberto Andiola was released early Friday, while the mother was released Friday afternoon after being returned to Phoenix from an immigration detention center in Florence, Ariz.
Another brother, Angel Fernandez, said his mother told family members that she was on a bus to the border when the driver got a call and was told to return to Florence.
However, ICE officials said Friday that Maria Arreola was never on a bus to Nogales and she was returned to Phoenix from a staging area in Florence.
Before Maria Arreola was released, she was told she could remain in the United States for at least a year and might get a work permit, according to Fernandez. "She's pretty ecstatic right now," he said.
In releasing the relatives, ICE exercised its case-by-case discretion based on initial reviews, said ICE Press Secretary Barbara Gonzales, adding that "a fuller review of the cases is currently ongoing."
Immigration activists denounced the detentions, saying they showed a need for broad changes in immigration policy to end family separations.
"We cannot keep fixing this one worker, one family member at a time," said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.
az2008 posted at 1:18 pm on Sat, Jan 12, 2013.
Deport them. This is the only country in the world where you can openly flaunt that you're here illegally and be seen as a hero.
And, for those who say immigration enforcement is racist, what about the group La Raza which openly promotes hispanic interests, and the group's name literally translates to "the race?"
I don't hear any hispanics organizing downtown marches against La Raza.
Masterrogue666 posted at 10:37 pm on Sat, Jan 12, 2013.
There it is, PROOF WHY she's an activist. Her Mommy is a CRIMINAL! DEPORT THEM ALL!
samkat posted at 8:51 am on Sun, Jan 13, 2013.
I for one would like to know who ordered the bus to turn around and then release the mother. That sounds awfully suspicious and must go pretty far up the food chain.
Arizona Willie posted at 10:27 am on Sun, Jan 13, 2013.
If her being an activist didn't cause her deportation --- it SHOULD have.
DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS --- NO SANCTUARY -- NO DREAM ACT
Ateam1 posted at 6:26 pm on Mon, Jan 14, 2013.
Proof here that EVT is RACIST. They Boot people off that are saying the same as others. EVT YOU ARE? Please say!
Ateam1 posted at 6:36 pm on Mon, Jan 14, 2013.
THE editor is RACIST! PHOOEY ON THIS FREAKING LIBERAL MORON PAPER! Just watch ,they will leave this post!!!
Ateam1 posted at 8:10 pm on Mon, Jan 14, 2013.
Whatever you do, Don't say it like you see it ,Less, you be a LIBERAL! Correct,EVT?! Tell your story! This country is done, and LOSER MEDIA Does not help to get the TRUTH OUT! OH I forgot! THE TRUTH DOES NOT WORK THESE DAYS! You must Qualify to be a liberal/Socilist, PRO,gay,abortion,pot smoker,Obamacare,Multi-trillion dollar deficit supporter and by all means,DON'T BOTHER OUR ILLEGAL'S!!!
Ateam1 posted at 8:22 pm on Mon, Jan 14, 2013.
EVT,Are you supporting Erika Andiola? You seem to like her illegal way's over HONEST COMMENT'S! Care To JOIN?!!![wink]
Ateam1 posted at 5:44 am on Mon, Jan 21, 2013.
WOW Erika! You have surely hit rock bottom now, Joining forces with Kyrsten Sineca! You have proven what you really are! It is amazing how low people will stoop!
Masterrogue666 posted at 8:22 pm on Tue, Jan 22, 2013.
Ateam: What else could you expect from a CRIMINAL? I've no doubt she voted too!
loose stool posted at 4:15 am on Wed, Jan 23, 2013.
The mexicans are ruining our country, they dont want to be Americans, they want to be mexicans living in and off of Americans. Wonder how much government support she sucks up every month?
Ateam1 posted at 4:28 pm on Wed, Jan 23, 2013.
Master: Absolutely correct,She is a criminal,Shoving it down our throats and getting away with it.I can't believe how messed up our laws are,to the point they are not allowed to be enforced! Obama should be Impeached!
Ateam1 posted at 4:36 pm on Wed, Jan 23, 2013.
loose: Agreed, She is getting plenty gov. support, she was recently hired by that NASTY Liberal Socialist/ Admittedly Homosexual Kyrsten Sinema! Thats why i say she has really proven what she is all about!