A federal judge in Macon on Thursday issued an order temporarily halting the deportation of a Chamblee woman recovering from stage 4 oral cancer, giving her more time to fight her removal from this country.
Senior U.S. District Court Judge Hugh Lawson’s order extends to Dec. 2, when he is scheduled to hold another hearing concerning the medical condition of Tania Romero, a native of Honduras.
Her case has drawn national attention amid the Trump administration's clampdown on illegal immigration. Democratic presidential candidate Julián Castro and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams have tweeted in support of her, and U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath's office has assisted her family.
A mother of four and former construction worker, Romero, 48, was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities after she was arrested in Gwinnett County in August and charged with speeding and driving without a license. Her son, Cristian Padilla Romero, 24, is a Cross Keys High School graduate who is pursuing a doctoral degree in history at Yale University. He has been working to bring attention to her case.
Arguing Romero would not get adequate medical care in Honduras, her attorneys are seeking to block her removal while she appeals her deportation. They are also asking the judge to free her from the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla.
“We are encouraged the court temporarily stayed her removal and look forward to presenting further evidence to the court,” said Romero’s attorney, Jeffrey Fisher, who is with the Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton law firm in Atlanta.
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