Atty Charlene D’Cruz is trying to get a 52 yr old Cuban woman removed from the “Remain in Mexico” program arguing she should be exempt because she’s alone in Matamoros and going blind due to a parasite that has eaten her right retina and is now eating away at the left one. 
This is the fifth time D’Cruz has tried to get Yodalys taken out of MPP. She tried to get treatment in Matamoros but was told she needed to get treatment elsewhere. Last week CBP said they could postpone her upcoming court date so she can get treatment in Monterey or Mexico City.
CBP’s guiding principles say immigrants with “Known physical/mental health issues” should not be put in Remain in MX/MPP. However CBP said “MPP amenability is determined on a case-by-case basis after evaluating the totality of the facts and information available for each case.”
Yodalys said she last week had to wait for a child to help her cross the street because she can’t see.
“How is she supposed to go to Mexico City and then come back? She’s blind,” D’Cruz said.
“How is she supposed to go to Mexico City and then come back? She’s blind,” D’Cruz said.
CBP Supervisor Gonzalez just came up to the bridge and told Yodalys her case was denied.
To clarify, CBP told her they would not be removing her from the “Remain in Mexico” program. The supervisor didn’t offer an explanation.
D’Cruz was suddenly called back to the bridge by CBP. She hurried with Yodalys and now both of them are in CBP’s offices at the POE in Brownsville. Yodalys was taken to an area past the waiting room and D’Cruz is talking to a CBP officer.
Yodalys was taken to the ER in the US due to chest pains. In addition to going blind, she has epilepsy and severe anxiety. No word on whether she will be taken out of MPP and allowed to fight her asylum case in the US.
Right before Yodalys was rushed to the bridge she was showing me these bags she made last year for her grandchildren while she was detained by INM, Mexico’s immigration enforcement agency, in Mexico City for 50 days.
Just heard Yodalys was released from the hospital with medication and is being sent back to Mexico later today.
The 52 yr old Cuban asylum-seeker who is slowly going blind was removed from “Remain in Mexico”/MPP after being sent back to MX earlier. Her attorney was told to take her back to the bridge at 7pm and she was allowed to enter the US while her immigration case is adjudicated.
