Erlin San Martin-Gomez and his wife were outside their apartment, when they were detained by immigration agents at their parking lot, as part of the daily raids that ICE conducts throughout New Orleans neighborhoods. Due to a prior deportation, he was detained and placed in deportation proceedings.

Erlin is the father of 22-month old Christopher, a U.S. citizen baby who has been diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’ for most of his life, requiring him to take nutritional supplements, and potentially leading to more serious conditions. With constant need for medical and parental supervision, Christopher needs his dad to help buy the medication and for his emotional support.

Erlin has no criminal record and is a contributing member of the community. He is a member of the Refuge City Hispanic Ministries Christian Church, where he volunteers several times per week.

UPDATE: Erlin has been released.

Director Lund
New Orleans ICE Field Office
Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Dear Director Lund,

I’m writing in support of Mr. Erlin San Martin-Gomez (A# 099-517-891). Mr. San Martin-Gomez is currently being detained at the South Louisiana Correctional Center and under threat of deportation. He is a dedicated father and community leader, and would be an excellent candidate for prosecutorial discretion.

Mr. San Martin-Gomez is the father of a U.S. citizen son, Christopher Zaid San Martin Mejia, who will be turning 2 years old this November. He is the primary economic provider for his partner and their infant son. Christopher has been diagnosed with “Failure to Thrive” for most of his life, requiring him to take nutritional supplements, and potentially leading to more serious conditions. With constant need for medical and parental supervision, Christopher would greatly benefit from his father’s economic contributions and emotional support. In addition, Mr. San Martin-Gomez has no criminal record and is not a threat to public safety in any way, and is a contributing member of the community. He is a member of the Refuge City Hispanic Ministries Christian Church, where he volunteers several times per week.

In addition, Mr. San Martin-Gomez fears returning to his home, Honduras. Honduras is the country with the second highest homicide rate in the world. His home town, Yoro, has higher levels of crime rates than other Honduran departments. He fears that his US citizen son would be forced to visit or live with his father in an environment of political instability, extreme poverty, malnourishment and high vulnerability, conditions which could jeopardize his health even further.

Please consider positive exercise of prosecutorial discretion in Mr. San Martin-Gomez’s case.

cc: John Sandweg, ICE Acting Director

Categories: Victories