U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has transferred a 24-year-old mother from Maryland to a detention center in Louisiana, a relocation her legal representatives argue has hindered judicial processes that might allow her to post bail.
Vanessa Parrazal was apprehended by ICE agents on December 17 shortly after she left her 5-year-old daughter at Pinehurst Elementary School, as reported by observers. Her lawyers indicated she was originally set for a Tuesday court appearance, during which they intended to submit requests for an immigration judge to consider granting bond.
That hearing was affected when Parrazal was moved from Maryland to Louisiana on Sunday, according to her attorneys from the firm Portner & Shure.
ICE authorities acknowledged the detention to the Baltimore Sun, with a representative labeling Parrazal as "a criminal illegal alien from Mexico" due to a past conviction.
Legal documents reveal Parrazal faced a second-degree assault charge in 2020, which was later downgraded to a misdemeanor; she entered a guilty plea. Her additional court history includes only a 2020 citation for unlicensed driving.
Associates and local residents informed The Sun that the assault incident arose from her defending herself against a violent partner.
An ICE spokesperson stated Parrazal was recognized during a "targeted immigration enforcement operation" conducted on Dec. 17.
"ICE officers positively identified [Vanessa] Parazzal-Uscanga as she entered her vehicle and attempted to place her under arrest, however Parazzal-Uscanga refused to comply with lawful orders from and actively resisted arrest," an ICE spokesman told The Sun. "For the safety of the officers and the community, officers legally extracted the criminal alien from the vehicle and placed her under arrest."
ICE also claimed that falsehoods about such arrests have led to a surge of over 1,150% in attacks on its officers across the country, though the spokesman did not specify which aspects of this case were misleading.
Pursuing Legal Residency
Parrazal is wed to Aaron Downes, a U.S. citizen. Although matrimony does not instantly confer legal status, it can facilitate an application for permanent residency. Her legal team noted this procedure had already commenced.
"Vanessa has been in the United States for nearly 20 years," said Marlena Konopka, managing immigration attorney at Portner & Shure. "She is a young mother, a loving spouse and a cherished community member in Maryland. She made a mistake when she was younger, learned her lesson and took the appropriate steps to rehabilitate. She has had no legal issues since."
Maryland state authorities stated they are observing developments.
"Governor Moore is aware of the reports out of Salisbury and is deeply troubled by what’s been described," said Moore’s senior press secretary Ammar Moussa. "Maryland is a state that believes in due process, public safety, and basic human dignity — and we will not normalize a country where parents who are living here, working, paying taxes, and raising kids can be taken into custody in front of their children on the way to school. We will continue working with local partners to support impacted families and keep our communities safe."
Moussa added that the governor's office has communicated with Parrazal's family.
The office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen referenced his earlier comments criticizing the arrest.
"These abusive tactics are absolutely unacceptable," the statement said.
Parrazal continues to be held in ICE custody in Louisiana while her attorneys work to have her case reviewed by a judge and seek her release.
