1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

Freedom for Blanca Martinez, Polio survivor at risk of deportation! Blanca is a Polio survivor with ongoing medical needs. Detention + Deportation are equivalent to a death sentence! Her life is at risk over a few pieces of paper. In August 2025, Salem resident and local community leader Blanca reported to the Burlington, MA ICE Field Office. Blanca appeared with over 300 hundred community members and faith leaders by her side. While Blanca walked free that day, ICE called her back just 1 month later. In September 2025, over 400 community members stood by her side. Our collective mobilization and power resulted in a 1 year stay of deportation for blanca. What Blanca described as, “a miracle". Now, ICE is betting that a year is long enough for us to stop caring. We know better! We will not give up on our sister Blanca, nor any members of our community terrorized by ICE! Blanca’s next ICE check-in is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Burlington, MA. We will not let her face this evil alone. Again, Blanca faces the risk of either being detained on the spot or being given a 2-week notice to self deport. Blanca’s check-in comes amidst the context of daily, ongoing targeting by masked or undercover ICE agents across the North Shore of Massachusetts. In fact, on the very day that Blanca is being called to Burlington, another member of our community, Karol, faces a deadline to secure a $40,000 dollar bond or remain separated from her 6-year-old daughter indefinitely! Karol is currently in a detention center on the other side of the country, in California. Securing this expensive bond would not keep her safe from deportation. Paying Bond merely allows a community member the chance to work on their case from home, say goodbye to family, and try to get a lawyer's help. Every second out of detention counts. As long as Karol makes her next appointment, which she will, the money will hypothetically be returned (eventually). Setting a high price on this "last gasp of freedom" is cruel and inhumane, yet DHS shows no mercy. These amazing women are only 2 of our community members and leaders. The reality is Blanca’s case is one of thousands in Massachusetts. So many Americans live in fear, continually retraumatized and harassed over incomplete or expired paperwork. The cruelty and absurdity of this system is designed to overwhelm and divide us. We see through this evil game. We choose not to back down! We know Blanca belongs here, we know Karol belongs here. Every community member ripped from our streets, our businesses, and our civic spaces by masked-men, belongs here! We insist that each of our reps not just do their part, but lead the way and insist others do the same! Not another penny for ICE. Please write personal pardons for these women ASAP! Please appear with us, whenever your constituents face this danger. We expect to see you put your words into action in this matter. Nothing less is acceptable. Thank you in advance.