filmmaker’s Green Card Dream Turns into Immigration Nightmare as ICE Arrest sparks Outcry
A Brazilian film director’s pursuit of a green card has devolved into a harrowing legal battle after a surprise arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following what her husband believed was the final step in the application process. The case has ignited debate over immigration enforcement tactics and raised concerns about due process.
Barbara Gomes marques May, a 38-year-old national of Brazil with no criminal record, arrived with her husband, tucker may, at a federal immigration building in downtown Los Angeles on September 16th, anticipating the completion of her green card application. the interview had proceeded smoothly, Tucker may recalled, until an official requested she accompany him to photocopy her passport. what the couple believed would be a brief administrative task quickly turned into a nightmare.
Instead of a simple copy, an ICE agent arrested Marques May, handcuffing her and transferring her to a detention facility in Adelanto, California, before moving her to Louisiana. Her husband and attorney promptly launched efforts to halt her deportation. As of Thursday, she had been moved again, this time to Arizona, with a return to California anticipated while her case remains open.
“It’s very much an ongoing nightmare,” Tucker May said in a recent interview.
According to her attorney, marcelo Gondim, Marques May initially entered the U.S. in 2018 on a tourist visa. After her extension request was denied, she remained in the country, and in 2019, received a notice to appear in court for deportation proceedings. However, due to a
During her transfers between facilities, she endured harsh conditions, including periods exceeding 12 hours without food or water, and bathrooms lacking basic supplies. She was reportedly provided only bread, water, and occasionally an apple.
Adding to the distress, Marques May, who underwent surgery earlier this year for chronic back problems, was denied access to a device she uses for pain management. may delayed going public with the case for over a week, he said, after exhausting all legal options. “There is an open disdain being shown by ICE for the basic rule of law for this country,” he stated.
May’s public appeals for help have garnered significant support, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $50,000 as of Thursday. U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), representing Marques may as a constituent, pledged to “do everything possible to prevent her deportation” and demanded ICE adhere to legal protocols. “Unluckily, Barbara’s case is not unique, it reflects a broader pattern under Trump’s immigration policies that are unlawful and cruel,” she posted on X.
Gondim described facing obstacles and delays from ICE officials in securing legal documents for his client’s signature, hindering efforts to prevent her transfers to facilities outside of California. Despite the existing removal order,Gondim maintains that ICE is obligated to allow access to counsel and provide a fair opportunity to present a case for relief from deportation.
To halt the imminent deportation, Gondim filed motions to reopen and terminate the proceedings. Until a judge rules, ICE is legally barred from deporting Marques May. He expressed optimism that she will ultimately be released, citing her approved petition from her U.S. citizen husband and her clear path to obtaining a green card.
For now, though, Marques May’s burgeoning film career is on hold. In 2021, she premiered her short film, “Pretas,” at the L.A. Brazilian Film Festival, a work centered on the experiences of Black women and advocating for an anti-racist society. “I love Los Angeles so much,” she said in a previous interview. “I couldn’t be happier.”
The couple bonded over a shared passion for cinema, spending hours watching movies and discussing their merits. Tucker May now reflects on the plight of countless immigrants facing similar circumstances, lacking the resources to navigate the complex legal system. “These are human beings that these terrible things are happening to,” he said. “If anybody reads stories like this, if they think this doesn’t apply to them becuase they’re not married to an immigrant, I beg those people to consider what they think comes next.”
