Following a Boyle Heights drug bust, a woman is facing deportation which the sheriff's deputies said she had no involvement in. Protesters gathered in the downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday to demand the immediate release of Teresa Vidal-Jaime, who the protesters said was picked up by the federal authorities following a drug bust at Boyle Heights complex where the woman lives.
On Monday, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's narcotics investigators received the information from U.S. Border Patrol regarding a car suspected to cross-border narcotics smuggling which was headed to the Los Angeles area.
Following this information, investigators seized more than 30 pounds of cocaine and also approximately $600,000 in cash at the Boyle Heights location. Vidal-Jaime's husband was arrested for the drug possession.
Sheriff's officials initially detained Vidal-Jaime but released her because the investigators determined that she was not involved in the crime.
In a press release regarding the drug bust, the sheriff's officials emphasized that LASD personnel did not question any individuals about their immigration status during the investigation.
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"While this was a criminal investigation involving Border Patrol agents, the LASD does not enforce immigration laws, nor ask about immigration status. In fact, deputies do not ask immigration status of ANY person, including a victim or witness to any crime. Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government," stated the release, adding to that sheriff's personnel "were not involved in the continued investigation conducted by the U.S. Border Patrol agents."
Nevertheless, the U.S. Border Patrol officials took Vidal-Jaime into custody, because she was living in the country illegally.
"Our communities are always so over-policed, and we want that to stop. We want to stop fearing that that they can take our family members at any point," Marcela Hernandez said with the Immigrant Youth Coalition
Border Patrol officials said she is being held in Chula Vista awaiting deportation proceedings.
Mrudula Duddempudi.
