Wisconsin Woman Faces Detention Amid Immigration Struggles
In a turn of events that has left a Wisconsin family reeling, Elvira Benitez-Suarez, a 51-year-old woman from Sheboygan Falls, finds herself detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a routine check-in as part of her green card application process.
Benitez-Suarez’s journey to the United States began at the age of 15 when she fled Mexico with her younger sister after becoming a victim of sexual assault. Her attorney, Marc Christopher, shared that she has lived in the U.S. for over three decades without a criminal record.
Her daughter, Crystal Aguilar, described Benitez-Suarez as a respected community member who owns a cleaning business and is deeply involved with her church and family. Aguilar emphasized her mother’s role as a grandmother and a devoted Christian.
Previously, Benitez-Suarez was detained after inadvertently crossing into Canada, leading to a six-month stay at an Ohio ICE facility. Her case was decided favorably by an immigration court judge who recognized the hardship her removal would cause to her two U.S.-citizen children, resulting in her release. However, the government appealed, and she was detained again during a recent ICE office visit in Milwaukee.
Christopher noted, “ICE has no reason to detain her, whatsoever,” as the family awaits the Board of Immigration Appeals’ decision on the government’s challenge. Benitez-Suarez is currently held at the Campbell County Detention Center in Kentucky.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed her arrest, stating she is an “illegal alien from Mexico” and will receive “full due process.” Her family, particularly her 12-year-old daughter with special needs, is deeply affected by her detention. Aguilar expressed concern for her mother’s safety and plans to support her stepfather in caring for the younger children.
Voces De La Frontera, an immigrant rights organization, is collaborating with Christopher to explore options for Benitez-Suarez. The group demands justice and family unity in their social media statement.
Christopher, who has navigated shifting immigration policies over his 15-year career, described the situation as “spiteful and cruel,” especially since Benitez-Suarez had followed legal pathways to secure a green card. He criticized the current climate under President Donald Trump’s second-term immigration policies, which have complicated his practice.
The lengthy appeal process, potentially spanning two years, adds to the family’s distress. Meanwhile, DHS stands firm, asserting that “being in detention is a choice” and urging illegal aliens to consider self-deportation.
