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Securing Guillermo's Release from ICE Detention

An outreach coordinator at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation called ALRP to let us know that a community member had been arrested by ICE in Oakland. With the help of the Alameda County Immigration Legal and Education Partnership (ACILEP) hotline, we were able to identify the individual, “Guillermo,” and learn that he had been taken to the California City Detention Facility in the southern part of the state.

When we were able to contact Guillermo, we learned that he had been living in the U.S. for more than 20 years and that he had a pending U Visa case when he was picked up by ICE outside his home. He had no criminal record and, prior to his arrest, he had not been in removal proceedings.

Guillermo had been detained under the Trump administration’s expansive interpretation of “mandatory detention.” But this provision applies to arriving noncitizens—not those who have lived here for 20+ years. Along with our co-counsel at East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) and our Panel Attorney Jose Z. Marin, we filed a habeas corpus petition in federal court arguing that Guillermo’s detention was unlawful because he was not an arriving noncitizen within the meaning of the statute. The government did not respond and, about one month after he was detained, Guillermo was released.

Now back home, Guillermo is awaiting his removal proceedings hearing before an immigration judge, scheduled for next year. He is also waiting for a determination regarding his U Visa application. EBCLC is representing him in these matters, but we remain available to support as needed.

We are deeply grateful for the broad network of community partners that makes this work possible, helping ensure that people facing urgent legal crises can access coordinated support when they need it most.

Introducing New DreamSF Fellow, Danna Pasos!

Please join us in welcoming Danna Pasos to ALRP as our new DreamSF Fellow. DreamSF is a paid leadership and professional development program for immigrant students and emerging professionals, offering hands-on experience with social justice organizations around the Bay Area.

Danna Pasos, DreamSF Fellow

Born in Quintana Roo, Mexico, and raised in San Rafael, California, Danna’s experience as a first-generation college graduate residing in a predominantly immigrant community shaped her education and career goals. Danna graduated from San Francisco State University (SFSU) with a double major in Sociology and Race and Resistance Studies. At SFSU, Danna focused on researching undocumented student needs and, in her community, continues to support immigrants through Know Your Rights trainings, distribution of “red cards,” and citizenship test support. As part of the restaurant labor force, Danna is also passionate about improving the wages and labor conditions of immigrant workers in this sector through advocacy and labor organizing.

During her fellowship with ALRP, Danna will work with our Staff Attorney Rafael Benzecry to support our clients on various immigration matters. Please join us in welcoming Danna to the team!