MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — Just days after surviving a brutal shooting, Felipe de Jesus Hernandez Marcelo left the hospital on crutches, struggling with the consequences of violence and bureaucracy. The 28-year-old father nearly died when he was shot during a robbery attempt that authorities have linked to a planned set-up involving a woman he met online. His critical injuries required emergency medical interventions, yet his ordeal did not end with recovery.
On June 21, Hernandez was shot in both his arms and legs, leading to a traumatic hospital experience. After his release from the hospital, seeking assistance to reclaim his vehicle and money from police, he learned an old warrant for his arrest existed, stemming from an unpaid traffic ticket. This visit to the police station quickly spiraled into a nightmare, as law enforcement handed him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Under the current administration's push against illegal immigration, Hernandez became part of a troubling trend where victims of crimes find themselves detained and facing deportation rather than receiving the protection and support they need. Since January, ICE has rescinded policies which previously protected crime victims from deportation, leading to a sharp decline in applications for visas for crime victims.
Critics argue the ramifications of these policies extend beyond individual cases; they create fear among immigrant communities that discourages victims from reporting crimes to law enforcement. Daniel Kowalski, an immigration law expert, pointed out, This type of thing is now the new normal. Any contact with law enforcement puts you in danger of detention by ICE.
Hernandez's case exemplifies the dire consequences of this approach. He has been in ICE custody since his visit to the police station, separated from his 9-year-old son and experiencing pain from his unhealed wounds without adequate medical care.
Attending a bond hearing, Hernandez expressed his desperation to the judge, emphasizing the fear that loomed over his family due to his detention. Despite the trauma he has endured, Hernandez's situation reflects a broader issue of how the immigration system responds to victims rather than protecting them.
As Hernandez waits, the community's response, and ongoing legal battles, draw attention to the need for a reconsideration of how authorities handle cases involving victims and perpetrators of crime.
On June 21, Hernandez was shot in both his arms and legs, leading to a traumatic hospital experience. After his release from the hospital, seeking assistance to reclaim his vehicle and money from police, he learned an old warrant for his arrest existed, stemming from an unpaid traffic ticket. This visit to the police station quickly spiraled into a nightmare, as law enforcement handed him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Under the current administration's push against illegal immigration, Hernandez became part of a troubling trend where victims of crimes find themselves detained and facing deportation rather than receiving the protection and support they need. Since January, ICE has rescinded policies which previously protected crime victims from deportation, leading to a sharp decline in applications for visas for crime victims.
Critics argue the ramifications of these policies extend beyond individual cases; they create fear among immigrant communities that discourages victims from reporting crimes to law enforcement. Daniel Kowalski, an immigration law expert, pointed out, This type of thing is now the new normal. Any contact with law enforcement puts you in danger of detention by ICE.
Hernandez's case exemplifies the dire consequences of this approach. He has been in ICE custody since his visit to the police station, separated from his 9-year-old son and experiencing pain from his unhealed wounds without adequate medical care.
Attending a bond hearing, Hernandez expressed his desperation to the judge, emphasizing the fear that loomed over his family due to his detention. Despite the trauma he has endured, Hernandez's situation reflects a broader issue of how the immigration system responds to victims rather than protecting them.
As Hernandez waits, the community's response, and ongoing legal battles, draw attention to the need for a reconsideration of how authorities handle cases involving victims and perpetrators of crime.
