The Waco Immigrants Alliance is continuing its fight for Estela Fajardo, an undocumented immigrant who's been in the county's custody for three years.
On Monday morning, they stood on the steps of the McLennan County Courthouse, calling for answers from McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna.
Waco Immigrants Alliance Executive Director Hope Mustakim said late last week the DA's office handed Fajardo over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ahead of her court date that was set for Dec. 11.
"Waco Immigrants Alliance and her attorneys only learned of her location at 8 a.m. Friday, along with ICE’s intentions to deport her expeditiously," Mustakim said. "Waco Immigrants Alliance and Fajardo’s legal team believe the DA’s office is undermining the legal process that would vindicate her."
Fajardo's boyfriend, Terry Stevener, who she shares a son with, said she has been looking forward to her court date for a long time.
"Long story short, we just want to see justice served," Stevener said. "It doesn't make the DA's office look very good to hold somebody three years and then, four days before their time to go to trial, hand them over to ICE without notifying their legal team."
Fajardo was indicted on theft of jewelry and electronics of at least $2,500.
"She didn't know the property she received was stolen and we've maintained that from the word 'go'," Stevener said.
The Waco Immigrants Alliance has sought justice for Fajardo since intercepting her case in March of this year.
They started fighting for her when she claimed a female guard touched her inappropriately and made sexual advances at the Jack Harwell Detention Center.
"Estela Fajardo has maintained her innocence, all the while facing ongoing, documented retaliation at the hands of jail staff after going public with her claims of sexual assault in the Jack Harwell Detention Center," said Waco Immigrants Alliance Executive Director Hope Mustakim.
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