FORT PAYNE, Ala. — Micaela Pascual, a mother of six from Fort Payne, was detained by ICE agents after arriving to renew her work visa. She has been sent to a processing center in Louisiana, and her family is now fighting for her release.
Immigration attorney Kim Fasking told WAFF 48 that legal help exists for those detained by ICE, but only those who meet certain qualifications can benefit. Once deportation proceedings begin, stopping the process becomes very difficult.
Fasking explained that under the Trump administration, ICE agents have broadened their criteria for detaining immigrants. For years, certain immigrants were allowed to stay and work under “orders of supervision,” especially if they had young children or sick relatives. However, this policy has changed.
“Now, those orders of supervision are being pulled back,” Fasking said. “People who used to check in regularly with ICE and received forms confirming their compliance—so they could renew their work permits—are now being detained.”
She also highlighted the challenges families face in securing legal representation. “Paying for a lawyer is hard for anyone, but especially for those without permission to work in the U.S. Often, there are no legal options to gain status here. The Trump administration has further limited who can access these options.”
Fasking noted that arrests like these are becoming more frequent, leading to an increase in calls to immigration attorneys. “We have clients in removal proceedings who need representation. Many call us because their loved ones have been detained and they want help to bring them home,” she said.
Micaela Pascual is currently held at the ICE processing center in Pine Prairie, Louisiana. Her family is working to raise funds to hire an attorney or, if she is deported to Guatemala, to support her basic needs.
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