Update: ICE approves 6-month stay for young cancer patient and her mother
EL PASO, Texas (CBS4) — A family on the brink of losing their mother is being granted more time together.
Maria De Loera continues to be at her daughter’s hospital bedside while she continues to receive medical care after battling cancer twice.
De Loera and her daughter Alia Escobedo received the news Tuesday morning that ICE granted De Loera a six-month stay of removal.
"This is a clear example of urgent humanitarian need because of Alia's delicate condition and the rare form of cancer she has," Linda Rivas, De Loera's immigration attorney, said.
The family has been at the El Paso Children’s Hospital since Friday for continued treatment Alia needs.
Eight-year-old Alia is worried about having to go under anesthesia as she’s being monitored after battling bone and lung cancer. But her biggest fear is her mother not being by her side when she wakes up, because De Loera could be deported.
“It's obvious Alia needs her mom when she's in the hospital and the physicians and the hospital here at our Children's Hospital need the opportunity to continue her care,” said Bishop Mark Seitz said.
Seitz went to the hospital to bless Alia and her mother Monday before the day's medical and legal battles.
Seitz called for compassion after meeting Alia and her mother. He said it would be a travesty of justice and charity if the mother of a sick child was deported when she was needed the most.
He joined De Loera's immigration attorney, Linda Rivas, to petition for her stay of removal to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The request was accepted, and ICE later approved a six-month stay for Alia's mother.
"This time is worth its weight in gold for us," De Loera said.
De Loera tells CBS4 she is thankful for the help and support she's received to stay with her daughter through her continued recovery.
“You know there's still a lot of good people out there and we're thankful God still touches people's hearts,” De Loera said.
De Loera's immigration attorney said it could've taken days or weeks before ICE reached a decision on whether the stay of removal would be granted.
Rivas says the next step is to pursue De Loera's original political asylum case.
"Maria came to the country asking for asylum. She came asking after her husband was killed, Alia's father. That is the most correct way in which she could come in," Rivas said.
The agency will continue to monitor De Loera via ankle monitor.
