EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Immigration advocates are urging the release of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient and activist Catalina “Xochitl” Santiago, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at El Paso International Airport last month.
Santiago’s detention is being challenged in federal court, but a judge has extended a temporary restraining order that keeps her in El Paso. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security cites a previous trespassing charge and suspicion of drug possession as reasons for her detention.
“What the government is currently trying to do is unjustly detain DACA recipients like Santiago,” said Fatima Anaza, a supporter of Santiago. “Her detention is part of a troubling pattern of targeting activists, which is truly insane.”
Santiago’s lawyers argue that she was never charged with the drug offenses and that the trespassing charge was related to peaceful civil resistance. Despite these arguments, Santiago has been in custody for 50 days.
An immigration lawyer has moved to terminate Santiago’s removal proceedings, but she remains in custody. Her DACA status is set to expire on April 29, 2026.
As Santiago’s legal battle continues, her supporters remain vocal about what they see as a broader issue affecting DACA recipients. The outcome of her case could have implications for others in similar situations.
All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by KTSM. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by KTSM staff before being published.
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