Summary
A grandmother with a green card, Eva Mendes, was detained by U.S. federal agents over a past misdemeanor charge. Mendes has lived in the U.S. most of her life and is being held without clear charges, causing concern over her detention.
Key Facts
- Eva Mendes, a 48-year-old grandmother, has held a U.S. green card since she was 8 years old.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained her at Boston Logan International Airport on November 5.
- Mendes was detained after returning from Cape Verde, where she visited family following the sudden death of her brother.
- Her detention lasted 12 days at the airport before she was transferred to a jail in Portland, Maine.
- The charge leading to her detention was a 20-year-old misdemeanor offense.
- Her attorney states that Mendes has lived in the U.S. for most of her life, working and paying taxes in Rhode Island.
- There is no clear justification provided by the Department of Homeland Security for her ongoing detention.
- Mendes missed the birth of her first grandchild while being held in detention.
