ICE Detains College Student And Her Mom At LI Home, Fiance Says: 'Dreams Of A Building A Better Life':

Core Viewpoint - The detention of Sara Lizeth Lopez Garcia, a college student, and her mother by ICE highlights issues surrounding immigration enforcement and its impact on individuals with legal protections, such as Special Immigrant Juvenile status [4][8][14]. Group 1: Detention Details - Sara Lizeth Lopez Garcia, her mother, and her 17-year-old brother were detained by ICE on May 21 due to a mistaken address [3][4]. - They were initially detained in New York, then transferred to a New Jersey detention center, and finally sent to a Louisiana facility [5][6]. - The South Louisiana ICE Processing Center, where they are currently held, has a maximum capacity of 1,000 people and is privately owned by The GEO Group, Inc. [6]. Group 2: Legal Status and Protections - Lopez Garcia has an active Special Immigrant Juvenile status and is awaiting a visa to apply for her green card [7][8]. - Immigration attorney Ala Amoachi emphasized that the SIJ status is designed to protect vulnerable immigrant children, and the detention of individuals like Lopez Garcia demonstrates a disregard for humanitarian implications [8]. Group 3: Community Response - Professors and peers at Suffolk County Community College have expressed their support for Lopez Garcia, highlighting her achievements as a student with a 3.9 GPA and her involvement in community service [9][10]. - A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to cover legal expenses for Lopez Garcia and her mother, emphasizing their contributions to the community and the need for support during this challenging time [11][12][14].