Ruth Elizabeth Diaz Ruth Elizabeth Diaz
Hyattsville, MD
Ruth Elizabeth Diaz lived her two year old son Randy Jacob Moreira-Diaz in a small apartment in Hyattsville, MD. On July 18, 2011, a disagreement with a tenant in Ruth‘s apartment turned violent. Ruth had to physically defend herself from her attacker until she could call the Prince George’s Police for help. When the police arrived at the apartment they arrested Ruth, the victim of attack, and the tenant. Ruth had thought that she could trust the police to protect her, but instead she was separated from her son, arrested, charged with second degree assault and transported to the Upper Marlboro Detention Center. Her records were transferred to ICE due to the Secure Communities program. Upon her release from the detention center she was immediately turned over to ICE. She was detained for several days; meanwhile Randy was fortunately taken care of by a friend. On July 21, 2011 Ruth was finally released and was free to see her son. During her trial for her second degree assault the judge dismissed her case. Ruth has no criminal record and has never been arrested for any crime. Regardless her deportation still looms. Contrary to ICE’s June 17th Memos regarding prosecutorial discretion and the August 2011 Announcement that calls for discretion for persons who have an “a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse, child, or parent” and if the person is the primary caretaker of a minor. Ruth has a voluntary departure date of September 30, 2011. Unless her Deferred Action is granted she will have to leave this country. Although, Ruth was born in El Salvador she no longer has ties to the country. She has no home, no family, and no friends that could help her take care of her small child. Randy will be subject to a greatly decreased quality of life and education if he and Ruth are forced to leave.
“I didn’t do anything wrong calling the police. I was the victim, but they arrested me anyway” - Ruth Diaz