INDIANAPOLIS -- A young mother who was detained by immigration officials in Chicago for months is now back home in Indianapolis with her family.
Last week, a judge signed the release for Maira Bordonave-Cortes after four months away from her husband and children, but immigration agents decided to hold her for 90 more days. She was released Friday and reunited with her family and friends.
She opened up about the experience Monday at St. Gabriel The Archangel Parish.
Bordonave-Cortes said she came to the United States as a teenager and was prompted by the Dream Act to apply for legal status. But she was flagged for a previous deportation and detained.
"I just felt like, that I'm a criminal?" she said. "I'm a human being, I'm a mother I mean, I deserve to be with my family."
She also said Monday's victory was bittersweet because she still does not have legal status in the United States. She has missed many moments with her family that she'll never get back.
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