Viral Petition Demands ICE Director Thomas Homan Immediately Release Domestic Abuse Survivor Arrested As Judge Granted Her Protection from Her Abuser

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, February 16, 2017
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com | 516-841-1105

Viral Petition Demands ICE Director Thomas Homan Immediately Release Domestic Abuse Survivor Arrested As Judge Granted Her Protection from Her Abuser

More than 20,000 People Sign UltraViolet’s Petition to Free Ervin Gonzalez in Less than One Hour, 

Warns ICE Actions Will Undermine Law Enforcement and Trap Women in Abusive Situations

EL PASO, TEXAS — More than 20,000 people have signed onto a new petition from UltraViolet, a national women’s advocacy group, in just the last hour demanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan immediately release Ervin Gonzalez, an El Paso woman and survivor of domestic abuse, after she was ambushed and arrested by six federal immigration agents inside the El Paso County Courthouse last week. 

The arrest occurred just as the judge was granting her a protective order from her abuser.  Since immigration officials have discretionary authority, they can choose to release Gonzalez.

SEE THE ULTRAVIOLET PETITION HERE: https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/el-paso-ice

“The actions by ICE in arresting Ervin Gonzalez are beyond despicable.  No woman, undocumented or otherwise, should ever have to fear armed men rushing into a courthouse to arrest her, especially while she is in the process of seeking protection from a crime committed against her,” explained Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of UltraViolet. “Beyond the sheer cruelty of arresting an undocumented domestic violence survivor just as she was about to receive protection from her abuser – ICE’s actions undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement and trap women in abusive situations.  ICE Director Thomas Homan should be ashamed of himself.  Because of his actions – fewer survivors will come forward to report these abuse, and more women will die.”

Gonzalez and immigrant survivors are supposed to be protected by the federal Violence Against Women Act. Certain provisions in the act protect undocumented immigrant survivors from being reported by their abuser and from being detained in a courthouse when reporting their abuse without proper certification.

“ICE Director Thomas Homan has the power to release Gonzalez and UltraViolet’s more than 1 million members, from Texas to Alaska, demand the he do so immediately,” added Chaudhary.

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