Airline Assured Flight Attendant She’d Be Safe to Fly to Mexico. When She Returned, ICE Detained Her.
March 22, 2019
Selene Saavedra Roman was brought to the United States from Peru when she was 3 years old. She graduated college at Texas A&M and was granted legal status under DACA. She is married to a U.S. citizen and is on her way to full citizenship in the only country she’s ever known.
But now, she is sitting in an ICE detention center - where she has been held for over a month in inhumane conditions - and threatened with deportation to a country she's never known.
Selene had just started her dream job as a flight attendant when she was scheduled for a flight to Mexico. She raised concern with her supervisor, but the airline mistakenly insisted she would be fine to travel. Being new on the job, she agreed to work the flight.
But when she returned, customs pulled her aside and detained her. After 24 hours in detention at the airport, she was transferred to ICE custody where she has been held in “prison conditions.” Immigration hearings are scheduled for next month, but they could end with deportation for someone who has done nothing but follow all of the rules.
We demand that Selene immediately be released, reunited with her husband, and all charges against her dropped.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is mobilizing for Selene. Join us. Bring her home. You can read more about Selene's story here. Sign the Petition Now
In the Media:
The Guardian: 'A nightmare': flight attendant with Daca status held after flying for work
Slate: ICE Releases “Dreamer” Flight Attendant Locked Up for Six Weeks After Mexico Flight
The Washington Post: How a flight attendant from Texas ended up in an ICE detention center for six weeks (3/23/19)
AP: Flight Attendant Detained by Immigration on Return to US (3/22/19)
Bloomberg: Airline, Union Tell ICE to Release Their Flight Attendant (3/22/19)
NBC News: Flight Attendant, a DACA Recipient, Released by ICE (3/22/19)
USA Today: Texas flight attendant detained by ICE for weeks after airline's 'administrative error' (3/23/19)
Dallas Morning News: ICE frees 'Dreamer' flight attendant, a Texas A&M grad, who was locked up after Mexico flight (3/22/19)
CBS News: Flight attendant and DACA recipient detained by ICE for over a month (3/22/19)
BuzzFeed: A Flight Attendant With DACA Was Cleared By Her Airline To Fly To Mexico. She Was Detained By ICE For Over A Month. (3/22/19)
Huff Post: ICE Releases DACA Recipient Detained While Serving As Flight Attendant (3/22/19)
The Hill: DACA recipient flight attendant released by ICE (3/22/19)
The Hill: Clinton calls for people to sign petition to help DACA recipient detained by ICE (3/22/19)
Paddle Your Own Kanoo: This U.S.-Based Flight Attendant Has Been Detained by ICE in ‘Prison Like’ Conditions for Two Months (3/22/19)
The Points Guy: Mesa Airlines Flight Attendant Held by ICE Has Been Freed (3/22/19)
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