Overview
- Federal officials have opened deportation proceedings against Zoila Guerra Sandoval after USCIS denied her request for protection.
- She applied for parole in place and deferred action, which are discretionary programs that can let a noncitizen stay, work, and later seek a green card through a U.S. citizen child.
- USCIS said the positive factors in her case did not outweigh negative ones, and her lawyer said the only negative cited was her unauthorized entry.
- Guerra Sandoval shares a Maryland-born daughter with José Mynor López, who died in the March 2024 Key Bridge collapse, and her first filing in November 2024 was returned over fees before being denied after resubmission.
- CASA, Baltimore officials, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen criticized the move and warned it could deter other bereaved families who sought help through the post-collapse humanitarian process.