Sheboygan Falls Woman Released on Bond After Two Months in ICE Custody
Elvira Benitez Suarez, a 51-year-old resident of Sheboygan Falls, has been released on bond by an immigration judge after spending over two months in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Benitez Suarez was detained during a routine immigration check in Milwaukee back in March. This followed a judge’s ruling late last year that allowed her to pursue a green card. However, the federal government appealed that decision, and her detention remained in effect while the appeal is pending before the Immigration Appeals Board.
For the duration of her detention, Benitez Suarez was held at the Campbell County Detention Center in Kentucky. Her immigration attorney, Mark Christopher, previously asserted that there was “no reason whatsoever to detain her.”
On Thursday, a Tennessee immigration judge set her bail at $1,500, which Christopher noted was the minimum allowable amount. He highlighted that securing such a low bond necessitates a demonstration of both a lack of flight risk and absence of danger.
Following the posting of her bail, Benitez Suarez was released on Tuesday. Christopher shared that her family was en route to pick her up at that time, describing her release as a “huge relief.” In a brief phone conversation, he noted that she appeared overwhelmed, concerned about what the future holds.
Benitez Suarez is the mother of four children, two of whom are adults, along with a 13-year-old and an 11-year-old who still reside at home. All four children are U.S. citizens. Christopher mentioned that it may take some time for her to feel truly safe again, as she adjusts back to life with her family.
Having fled Mexico at the age of 15 after experiencing sexual assault, Benitez Suarez has no criminal record. Her daughter, Crystal Aguilar, revealed that Elvira runs her own cleaning business and is actively involved with a local church. She had previously faced detention by U.S. Customs and Border Protection after an unintentional crossing into Canada, leading to over five months in an ICE facility in Ohio.
The ruling that allowed her to seek a green card was met with an appeal from the federal government. Christopher mentioned that the appeal brief is anticipated to be filed in early June and that a decision may take anywhere from one to eighteen months after that submission.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security confirmed on Tuesday that Benitez Suarez was granted bail, marking a significant step in her ongoing immigration case.
