12-05-2025
Mother detained by ICE granted asylum, but will remain in federal custody
DENVER (KDVR) — A Honduran woman who entered the U.S. in October 2023 was granted asylum on Thursday, but she is to remain in federal custody, for now.
Carla Azucena Medina-Hernandez has been held in the Aurora Contract Detention Center by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for months. She appeared in immigration court on Thursday, where she was granted asylum by an immigration judge.
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However, that didn't spell her immediate freedom. Instead, the federal government is reserving its right to appeal the case after the judge's written decision is filed in court. The process requires that Medina-Hernandez remain in custody for another 30 days to allow the federal government's appeal.
Medina-Hernandez, a nurse with over 12 years of experience, was detained by ICE in October 2024 while she was working as a DoorDash delivery driver and attempting a delivery at the Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora.
'Medina attempted to enter Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, without authorization, Oct. 23, 2024,' ICE told FOX31. 'Buckley Space Force Security Forces notified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Denver who arrested her on scene.'
The American Friends Service Committee, which is helping fight Medina-Hernandez's legal battle, said the mother of two was taken into custody following 'a racially charged encounter' at the base. Criminal charges filed in an April 2024 incident were dismissed in October 2024.
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The mother has lived in Colorado since October 2023, and according to the AFSC, was paroled into the U.S. through the CBPOne program with her husband and their two children. She was seeking asylum and had filed her case within the one-year deadline, according to AFSC.
Jennifer Piper, a member of the AFSC, said the government's reserving its right to appeal Medina-Hernandez's asylum is just a way to punish people further, but added that Medina-Hernandez's husband, Pablo Acosta, wanted to focus on the positives.
Acosta has been raising money for the legal bills incurred by the case.
'In a little under one month, we collected what we needed to pay the immigration attorney,' said Carla Medina's husband through a translator. 'On behalf of Carla and the kids, we are so grateful, because after 7 months of detention, our family is going to be able to reunite.'
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