A 79-year-old Cuban woman, Julia Benitez, has been granted release from ICE detention after nine challenging months in custody at a facility located in Eloy, Arizona. Her case has drawn attention due to her deteriorating dementia and the persistent efforts of her family to secure her freedom.
The Arizona Daily Star initially reported Benitez’s plight, highlighting her attempt to seek asylum after crossing the border last May. Despite the efforts of her family to obtain humanitarian parole, their requests faced repeated denials.
Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva, influenced by the Arizona Daily Star’s coverage, visited the Eloy Detention Center this month and met with Benitez. Grijalva noted that Benitez appeared disoriented and unaware of her surroundings during their meeting.
The situation took a positive turn when ICE decided to release Benitez. Congresswoman Grijalva was present to welcome her at the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport as she prepared to fly to Miami and reunite with her family.
“I was so very happy for her, and then I talked to her daughter, and she was just very grateful. They’ve been praying for nine months for her to get out,” Grijalva expressed.
ICE has remained silent about the specifics of Benitez’s release and the alleged “blanket denials” of humanitarian parole, as pointed out by immigration attorneys.
Grijalva, while relieved about Benitez’s release, emphasized that many immigrants with medical vulnerabilities remain in detention. She advocates for a comprehensive review of humanitarian release requests from ICE.
“We’ll ask for that, I would love to demand that, but we’re asking them to take masks off, and we’re in this stalemate because of that,” she mentioned.
This development occurs amid a partial government shutdown in effect since mid-February, due to ongoing debates over reforms to ICE and Border Patrol.
