Brazilian Film Director Detained by ICE Despite Pending Green Card Application
Barbara Marques May, a Brazilian film director living in Los Angeles, is facing deportation after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite having a pending application for permanent residency through her U.S. citizen husband. Her case has sparked outrage from supporters and her legal counsel, who allege ICE disregarded due process and demonstrated a “disdain” for the rule of law.
May was detained on January 26th, according to her husband, David May, who says ICE took her into custody while she was seeking medical treatment for chronic back problems and was also denied access to a device she uses to manage her pain. She publicly shared her arrest on social media more than a week after the incident, as her lawyer had exhausted all legal options.
“There is an open disdain being shown by ICE for the basic rule of law for this country,” stated attorney Michael Gondim.
May’s story quickly gained traction online, with a GoFundMe campaign raising over $50,000 as of Thursday to support her legal defence. U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), representing May as a constituent, pledged to “do everything possible to prevent her deportation” and demanded ICE adhere to legal procedures. Chu noted on X (formerly Twitter) that May’s case “reflects a broader pattern under Trump’s immigration policies that are unlawful and cruel.”
Gondim detailed difficulties in communicating with ICE officials and securing necessary legal documents for May to review and sign, hindering her ability to present her case. Following her initial detention in Adelanto, California, she was transferred to facilities in Arizona and Louisiana.
While acknowledging the government is acting within its rights to comply with a previous removal order, Gondim emphasized that ICE is obstructing May’s right to legal counsel and the chance to seek relief from deportation.He has filed motions to reopen and terminate her deportation proceedings, wich, if ruled upon in her favor, would prevent her immediate deportation.
“As she has already an approved petition from her U.S. citizen husband, and she has a clear path to filing a new [application] and getting her green card,” Gondim believes an immigration court judge will recognize the merits of her case and halt deportation proceedings.
The situation has also impacted May’s filmmaking career. Her first feature film is currently on hold until her release. She previously premiered her short film, “Pretas,” at the Culver Theater during the 2021 L.A. Brazilian Film Festival. The film focuses on the experiences of Black women confronting racism and advocates for an anti-racist society. May expressed her joy at the premiere, stating in an interview, “I love Los Angeles so much… It was a premiere I wasn’t expecting.”
David May shared that their shared passion for film brought them together, meeting on a dating app and bonding over movie nights and critical discussions. He now reflects on the plight of other immigrants lacking the resources to fight deportation, stating, ”These are human beings that these terrible things are happening to… If anybody reads stories like this, if they think this doesn’t apply to them because they’re not married to an immigrant, I beg those people to consider what they think comes next.”
