COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus mother who has been living at a Clintonville church for more than three years to avoid deportation can finally go home.
Edith Espinal met with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials Thursday morning to secure a reprieve from deportation with the hope her fight would finally come to an end.
In less than an hour, a crowd of supporters got their answer.
“I can finally go home,” she said as her supporters cheered.
In October 2017, the 43-year-old mother of three defied deportation orders and sought safety at the Columbus Mennonite Church and had been living there since.
She has lived in the US for more than 20 years, escaping from Mexico with her son, she says, to avoid the violence.
Espinal was denied a stay of deportation by immigration officials in January. She believes what changed today is a direct result of the Presidential election in November.
“I hope this president of this administration does something for all the immigrant community,” she said.
Ever since her case started, immigration officials have required her to wear an ankle monitor to track her movements.
Her attorney, who is also undocumented, says allowing her client to go home doesn't mean she can't be deported.
“If ICE wants to, they can detain her. I'm undocumented as well so I could be detained as well,” attorney Lizbeth Mateo said.
Espinal said she believes ICE allowed her to go home because she has a visa that is pending approval.
Thursday's decision still requires her to check with ICE every week.
We did attempt to reach someone from ICE for a statement or comment but did not hear back.