Money has been pouring into a crowdfunding campaign to provide a legal defense for Maria Flores, a migrant from El Salvador who earlier this year graduated as valedictorian of her high school in Prince George’s County and is languishing in ICE custody.
Ms. Flores graduated from Parkdale High School and is now a student at the University of Maryland.
She and her mother were arrested during a check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last week.
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Homeland Security said the student had been ordered deported in 2021 but had been defying that order.
Cesar Saavedra, Ms. Flores’ boyfriend who is running the crowdfunding campaign, said the arrests were “frightening.”
“She is more than just a student. She is a daughter, a girlfriend, a friend, and someone with so many dreams and aspirations ahead of her,” Mr. Saavedra said in his appeal.
He had set a goal of $25,000 to raise money for lawyers’ fees. The GoFundMe campaign was created Friday and crossed the $25,000 mark on Tuesday as the case drew attention.
Prince George’s County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy said she was “outraged” by the daughter’s immigration arrest.
“This happened when her mother, a law-abiding county resident, checked in with the Baltimore ICE office as required, by federal law,” Ms. Braveboy said in a statement. “Maria and her mother should know they are not alone: the people of Prince George’s County stand firmly with them. We are calling for Maria’s immediate release and safe return home.”
Ms. Beraveboy said Ms. Flores was being held in detention in Louisiana.
Homeland Security said Ms. Flores was initially arrested in 2016 at the U.S.-Mexico border and was released by the Obama administration.
She had her case heard by the immigration courts and was given a deportation order in 2021.
She was arrested by ICE on Thursday.
“She will remain in ICE custody pending her removal from the United States. This administration will not ignore the rule of law,” DHS said in a statement.
The department urged those in Ms. Flores’ position to self-deport in order to try to preserve their chance at returning to the U.S. legally.
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