Advocates Demand Charges Dropped for Young Mom Facing ICE Hold, Deportation, and Family Separation Following Car Collision
Family of person detained spoke at press conference urging for charges dropped
Austin, Texas—Tuesday morning, community members, grassroots organizations, and family members gathered outside the Travis County Commissioner’s Court to demand immediate action in the case of a young mother wrongfully criminalized following a car collision in Southeast Austin. Following the arrest, the victim of the crash was subjected to excessive force and denied access to interpretation and legal support. Advocates are calling for all charges against the young mom to be dropped.
This case is another example of the systemic injustices that endanger immigrant families, denying them safety, dignity, and their constitutional rights. Currently detained in Travis County Central Booking, the family of the person detained shared she was denied access to legal representation, pressured to sign documents without proper translation, and is now facing an ICE hold that could result in deportation and permanent family separation.
“Are my daughter's injuries being treated? Why doesn’t she have an attorney explaining the process to her? Is this what everyone goes through after an arrest or is it just my daughter?” asked Letzhaya, the mother of the person detained and a member of ICE Fuera de Austin and the Austin Sanctuary Network, during the press conference. “We deserve to have these answers.”
Despite existing commitments to reform, the County Commissioners have delayed the full implementation of the 24-hour Counsel At First Appearance (CAFA) program, leaving thousands of others without basic legal representation during their first encounters with the justice system. Organizers from Grassroots Leadership and Austin Sanctuary Network continue to assist the family in navigating this complex and unjust process, but there are limits to what can be achieved without systemic change.
“Our County Commissioner didn’t take into regard Letzhaya, her family, and families like hers that will forever be changed because of the lack of representation,” said Carmen Zuvieta, volunteer organizer with Austin Sanctuary Network, during her remarks. “They rarely take human cost into account for their budget.”
Advocates are united in demanding the charges be dropped and that her rights be respected. The case underscores the urgent need for community-driven solutions that prioritize care, dignity, and the safety of families over criminalization and punitive measures.
