What was supposed to be a quick concert trip to Boston has become a high-stakes immigration struggle for Maria Rosales, 32, who flew in to see Noah Kahan at Fenway Park and ended up in federal jail on her way home, according to her attorney.
Rosales, a lifelong color guard leader and dermatology clinic assistant from Orlando, attended Kahan’s Fenway event on July 8. Her attorney, Todd Pomerleau, claims that when she attempted to go home on July 10, immigration authorities at Logan International Airport seized her and transported her to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Burlington. She is now fighting to stay in the region rather than being shipped away.
According to Pomerleau, Rosales appears in ICE’s online detainee database and is being held in Burlington. He claims Rosales, a DACA participant whose renewal application has been delayed since September 2023, had a removal order from June 2017 that she was unaware of. He has filed a habeas corpus petition, challenging her incarceration. U.S. District Judge Leo T. Sorokin has issued an emergency order prohibiting federal officials from transferring her out of Massachusetts while the case is being resolved, and Pomerleau said another person, DJ David Ardila, was detained at Logan the same day and is listed in ICE records, according to The Boston Globe.
“Right now the goal is keeping her in the region and getting her out of jail,” Pomerleau stated. He also advised noncitizen residents to consult with immigration counsel before making trip plans, stressing that “these are just different times,” according to The Boston Globe.
According to USCIS, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provides temporary protection from deportation for two years that can be renewed, and applicants must complete Form I-821D and supporting paperwork to secure or extend that status. However, a pending renewal does not cancel an existing removal order, and immigration experts warn protracted processing times can subject people to enforcement even if they have completed the paperwork.
The ICE Boston Field Office, located at 1000 District Avenue in Burlington, acts as a critical processing hub for the region and has become a frequent source of contention over detention conditions and enforcement techniques. According to Boston.com, the location has sparked demonstrations and arrests in recent months, and campaigners and local authorities have regularly expressed concerns about keeping individuals there as well as increased policing at Logan during major events.
Pomerleau’s habeas petition requests that a federal judge determine whether Rosales’ detention is legitimate and restrict transfers while the review is underway. A habeas corpus petition is a tool that allows a court to investigate the validity of a person’s detention, according to federal court guidelines. Judge Sorokin’s emergency ruling is only temporary; the case will now proceed according to the court’s schedule, unless the federal government seeks further review.
Friends and fellow performers have written letters detailing Rosales’ community service. They point out that she established Vestige Winter Guard and choreographed a performance to Noah Kahan’s song “Orbiter,” linking her creative career directly to the event that preceded her detention. Local advocates are now mobilizing support, while Mass Deportation Defense is arranging legal intake and resources for the case. Those looking for information or ways to help should contact Mass Deportation Defense.
Leave a Reply