City leaders, advocates call for ICE to release Olney woman from detention

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Immigration advocates have called for the release of an Olney woman who has been in a federal detention center for seven months while her mother was put in a nursing home.

Jasmine Rivera, executive director of Pennsylvania Immigrant Coalition, joined with Councilmembers Rue Landau and Jamie Gauthier, along with several dozen others outside City Hall to call for the release of Constance, who has a valid green card.

“She was traveling,” Rivera explained. “She had hemp, which is not a controlled substance. It's totally legal here in the United States. She was traveling on vacation to St. Maarten, and there, hemp is a controlled substance.

Upon returning to the U.S., Constance was asked to report to immigration officials, Rivera said. At that meeting, she was detained and has since been held at Moshannon Valley Detention Center in central Pennsylvania.

Rivera said Constance is also her mother’s primary caregiver. “Her mother has lupus. She also has kidney disease and needs to get dialysis three times a week,” she said.

During the rally, a member of Juntos read a statement from Constance. “I am completely willing to give her one of my kidneys if it's possible,” the statement read. “Due to my detention, she is currently in a nursing home. I would greatly appreciate your help in getting me home quickly to assist her before the worst happens.”

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement did not respond to a request for comment.