Help Marta Fight Deportation

Marta Rodriguez has lived for over ten years in a home she owns in New Carrollton, MD. She is legally employed with a work authorization card and has held a number of jobs in the DC area as a nanny and house cleaner to support her family here and in Honduras. During her tenure in the US, she has paid taxes, followed the law, and made many positive contributions to our community. She is an honest, dependable, and hard-working person who has proven herself worthy of the American Dream. We met  Marta in 2014 when she began caring for our twin boys. Since then, she has become an integral part of our family, and we care deeply for her and her family.  

On March 29, Marta went to a routine check-in at the Baltimore Immigration office, as she has done for the past nine years. However, this time she was told to return to the office on May 10 with a plane ticket to Honduras. Sadly, this is happening frequently now as a result of Trump's policies. 

On May 10, Sanctuary DMV along with the DMV Sanctuary Congregations Network and La Red/Faith in Action organized a prayer vigil and protest outside of the Baltimore ICE office. Over 100 community members came to support Marta as she went in with her lawyer for her check-in.  There also were various media outlets in attendance covering the story.  You can read more in these articles from Baltimore Fishbowl  and The Baltimore Sun.

Prior to the check-in with ICE, over 650 community members signed a letter of support for Marta, which was delivered to Senator Cardin, Senator Van Hollen, and Rep. Hoyer of Maryland. As a result of these efforts, she was granted two more months before her next check in, which has given her and her lawyer more time to fight her case. Even so, we're extremely worried that Marta could be detained at her next check-in on July 9. Continued assistance from her lawyer as well as from the broader community will be essential to stopping her potential deportation.

Marta left Honduras because her son Osman, who is now 33 years old, is severely disabled, both mentally and physically. He requires substantial medical assistance, including 24-hour in-home nursing care. Marta sends $600 home to pay for Osman's medical care every month. In addition to Osman, she has five other children who live in the DC area with her. Marta’s youngest son is 15 and will be left without a mother if she is detained and deported. Marta and her children are valuable members of our community who have built deep roots in the United States. In addition to economic hardship for the family, returning to Honduras could potentially put Marta herself in serious danger.

In order to continue working with her lawyer, Marta needs help with legal fees and continued support from the broader community. We started this campaign in attempt to raise $4,500 to cover the costs. Please consider donating to help Marta and her family.