The complexities surrounding the case of Marta Brizeyda Renderos Leiva, who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Salt Lake City International Airport, continue to unfold as her attorneys navigate the intricate legal system to contest her arrest and pending deportation. Adam Crayk and Andy Armstrong, attorneys from Stowell-Crayk, assert that Leiva, whose legal work papers are valid through 2029, inadvertently missed her court hearing due to a critical mailing error, stemming from a notary's mistake in her asylum application proceedings, causing her to be entirely unaware of the removal order issued against her in 2020, ABC4 reports.
Following a high-profile arrest at the SLC airport igniting public concern and comments from city officials Leiva's family, too fearful to be fully identified, conveyed to FOX 13 News their distress at the situation, emphasizing Leiva's role as a single mother to four U.S. citizen children and her lack of harmful intent, stating, "It makes me very sad because we're human beings and we don't deserve to be treated like that, I think that we don't do anyone any harm, we just go out to earn our daily bread, to earn for our kids; we don't do anything bad, that's against the rules."
Leiva's legal team has filed a motion to reopen her case, a necessary step allowing her to remain in the country until a decision is reached despite the complications arising from a system that demands rigorous self-advocacy from immigrants during court proceedings as Armstrong suggested in a statement that it’s up to people to keep their details updated with ICE and the immigration court, but also highlighted Leiva's unawareness of these responsibilities and her lack of knowledge regarding the case transfer to ICE, KUTV confirms.
