Immigrant Claiming Sexual Assault While Detained Is Released

AUSTIN, TX — An undocumented immigrant from El Salvador who made an outcry about being sexually assaulted while being detained in a Williamson County detention center was released Friday.

The release of Laura Monterrosa comes after a months-long campaign to have her released. Led by Grassroots Leadership officials in Austin, calls for the woman's release were joined by numerous supporters of the woman empathizing with her plight, including more than 45 Congressional representatives who, armed with a letter written by representatives Lloyd Doggett and Joaquin Castro, demanded the release of the immigrant along with an investigation in the treatment of sexual abuse allegations at the detention site.

The letter to the Department of Homeland Security also called for an expedited audit to assess compliance with the Prison Rape Elmimnination Act at the T. Don Hutto detention center in Taylor, Texas, where the woman had been held for nearly a year.

“Despite facing retaliation inside, including solitary confinement, Laura showed incredible courage in speaking out to tell her story,” Claudia Muñoz, immigration programs director at Grassroots Leadership, said in a prepared statement. “This is a huge victory for Laura, for all the women who have organized and spoken out, and for the community that came to their support.”

Laura broke her silence about sexual assault in detention in November 2017, alleging she was subjected to unwanted advances by a female guard at the facility, a claim detention officials have denied. Since then, supporters have rallied in front of the detention center, made phone calls and sent petitions by the thousands demanding her release. Supporters in Central Texas lined up to visit Laura daily while she was in detention.

“This shows what the power of community can do,” added Grassroot Leadership's Bethany Carson. “But we also know that there are more than 500 women still locked up at Hutto every single night. Our hearts are full knowing that Laura does not need to spend any more time at Hutto, but we will not stop fighting until every injustice at Hutto is addressed and the facility is closed once and for all.”

The release comes a week after a federal judge in Austin heard a habeas petition and temporary restraining order filed in her case. It was only after a settlement in the case that ICE was ordered to provide external mental health care, Grassroots Leadership officials noted. The FBI has since also opened an investigation into Monterrosa’s case.

The young immigrant is now adjusting to her new environment and recovering from the trauma she has experienced, according to Grassroots Leadership officials who said they would follow up with a statement from her in the coming days.

Up to now, advocates for the woman were frustrated at every turn starting at the local level. Williamson County officials were unresponsive to reports of the woman's suffering behind bars for being undocumented, despite county commissioners' oversight role. Many critics believe county officials turn a blind eye to complaints emanating from the facility given an extremely lucrative agreement they have with the facility's operators, Corrections Corporation of America, who provide monthly financial outlays to the county for allowing them to run the facility in their jurisdiction — a pact that has helped Williamson County reap hundreds of thousands of dollars in windfalls over the years.

Related stories:

Sexual Abuse Claims Emerge From Hutto Immigrant Detention Site

Immigrant Woman Held In Williamson County Attempts Suicide

Austin Advocates Call For Release Of Detained Migrant Woman

Chody Blasted For Inaction On Detention Site Sexual Abuse Claims

Texas Congressmen Ask For Immigrant Detention Center Probe

Austin Council Members Seek Access To Detained Immigrant

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