Marinero, a transgender woman from El Salvador.
On January 26, Marinero received a call from a California parole agent requesting her signature on some paperwork. Expecting a simple formality, she stepped outside—but waiting for her were ICE agents, ready to take her into custody.
Susan Burton, founder of A New Way of Life, a reentry home where Marinero had been staying, condemned the tactics used.
“They deceived her. They called, they lured her out, and then ICE was waiting. It’s heartbreaking.”
Marinero had been working to rebuild her life after serving 17 and a half years in prison for a 2005 second-degree murder conviction. Supporters say she was making real progress, contributing to the community, and creating a better future.
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A Life Rebuilt, Then Taken Away
Housing supervisor Susan Hefner described Marinero as a dedicated, compassionate person who had even built a community garden for residents.
“She’s been making positive changes, working on herself, and truly giving back. She’s family here.”
Now detained at Otay Mesa, Marinero faces deportation to El Salvador, a country she fears returning to due to potential persecution.
“They told me I was being deported,” she said in a phone call. “I told them, ‘You can’t send me back. My life is in danger there.'”
Burton fears for her safety, calling the situation deeply disturbing.
“I can’t imagine what will happen if they send her back. It’s horrifying.”
Marinero is now fighting for asylum, and advocates argue her case highlights serious concerns over ICE’s tactics and the treatment of transgender detainees.
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