El Paso Walmart Survivor Deported After Traffic Violation
A woman who survived the El Paso Walmart shooting was just deported after being pulled over for a traffic violation. The woman is only being identified as Rosa was identified by Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services, was arrested last Wednesday, and after spending being taken to the downtown jail, she was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, who eventually deported her to Mexico.
A diocese spokeswoman, Sandra Ramirez, said:
Rosa has no criminal history other than two misdemeanor traffic citations that are over five years old.
Rosa's is on the witness list in the case against the Walmart shooter. Attorney Anna Hey is the deputy director of the legal clinic assisting in Rosa's case, and she said:
Rosa is a survivor of one of the most horrific events to ever take place in El Paso. She came forward and presented herself to both El Paso police and FBI officials to give a statement of what she saw on that fateful day. The information she has was sufficient for the District Attorney’s office to issue a certification that she has been helpful in the investigation. Despite having told this to the ICE officials who made the decision to deport her based on a years old deportation order, ICE officials in El Paso chose to remove her from the US, leaving her unsupported in Juarez. This decision amounts to a re-victimization of this young lady, who only came forward to help build the case against the shooter in the racist attack.
It's not known quite yet how the deportation proceedings will affect Rosa's testimony in the case against the Walmart shooter.