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BALTIMORE (WBAL) — A group of migrant mothers rallied downtown Tuesday, calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to remove ankle monitors they were ordered to wear after their release from detention earlier this year.
The mothers, joined by supporters, entered the federal building to make their case.
They say the monitors are making it difficult to rebuild their lives.
“She says you suffer through discrimination, through labor by trying to find work, but also socially because you have an ankle monitor on,” a translator said on behalf of Daran Giron, one of the mothers from Guatemala.
Giron, speaking through a translator, said she and around 40 others with active asylum cases were detained in March during routine ICE check-ins.
After spending about two months in detention and being transferred out of Maryland, they were released but required to wear ankle monitors.
“Basically, what they told us, that they really don’t have a reason to put it on, they just put it on us and they’re going to be monitoring us.” Giron said through the translator.
Since their release, several of the mothers formed a group called “Las Madres Unidas en la Lucha,” which translates to “The Mothers United in the Struggle.”
On Tuesday, the group attempted to visit the ICE office to request the removal of their monitors.
“We walked in and we asked to go up and they’re like, that office is closed, and we’re like no, it’s supposed to be open until 4 p.m.,” said organizer Aldrin Cruz. “After a couple of minutes, a man came down to talk to us and we explained the same situation to them and he was like listening and receptive and offered some solutions like talking to their program officer supervisors, which these are all things we’ve done already. But he was like no, I can’t take these letters,” Cruz said.
Organizers say they are determined to continue their efforts.
“They don’t want to stop fighting until these ankle monitors are removed because it’s truly unlivable. It causes them so much mental, physical, economic anguish, so they’re going to continue the struggle because they see it’s connected to the fight for justice for all migrants,” said organizer Anthony Reina.
In a statement to WBAL-TV 11 News, ICE said those arrest may be subject to release conditions that include ankle monitors.
“Illegal aliens — just like U.S. citizens — are subject to the legal system and may be subject to release conditions that include ankle or wrist-worn GPS technology. The Intensive Supervision Appearance Program is an enforcement tool that helps ICE ensure illegal aliens comply with removal proceedings.”
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