A federal immigration judge declined Tuesday to drop the deportation case against Tucson resident Karla Toledo, who is enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, despite her attorney’s efforts to raise concerns about how the government has communicated with her so far.
That moves Toledo’s case to another hearing in March, where attorneys can once again argue on her behalf. They say her case represents many others around the country.
Toledo’s experience has been in the spotlight after immigration agents’ targeted her and revealed the vulnerability of the community of young people brought to the United States as children without long-term immigration papers.
The arrest of DACA recipients who had no criminal charges was rare under other U.S. administrations. It is among the hallmarks of the second Trump presidency and has introduced a new undercurrent of terror and uncertainty in immigrant communities.
When she arrived to federal court on Tuesday for her hearing with Judge Michael W. Lloyd, Toledo was met outside the building and embraced by Rep. Adelita Grijalva, who has been a consistent supporter since Toledo’s arrest in May.
Since the initial incident, Toledo had one court case against her dropped but then a removal order was filed against both Toledo and her husband.
At issue in her deportation case is what protections DACA offers. Her attorneys also argue that paperwork mistakes, like a misspelled name and missing proof that she received a notice to appear, should invalidate the government’s case.
“This is unfortunately just the beginning of this battle, and we’re gonna have to continue to fight this,” attorney Mo Goldman said.
Toledo’s attorneys also noted that her DACA status was renewed, even as she continued to fight her deportation.
At a news conference after the hearing, Toledo reminded those who could vote that they represented many neighbors who could not. “Those who have the right to vote, it’s the time to use your voice,” she said. “There’s people like me, a lot of people who are in our community and cannot vote, but you represent us.”
Toledo’s next court date is set for March 26 at 8:30 a.m.
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