For the first time in months, 21-year-old Milena Diaz is speaking publicly, in tears – and not afraid of being deported.
"I'm going to have more opportunities," Milena Diaz said. "I can study. I can get a good job."
Diaz is not wearing an ankle bracelet. The South Florida woman is the first undocumented immigrant to have it removed by the Department of Homeland Security.
Diaz is no longer being monitored after her bracelet was put on 9 months ago – something that upset her attorney Nera Shefer.
"Yes, ICE needs to do their job, but there was no reason for her to wear an ankle bracelet," Nera Shefer said. "She has no criminal record, is 21 years old, and married an American citizen. I think ICE went too far."
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Diaz's parents were sent back to Colombia, but Diaz stayed because she was pregnant. Her attorney said she was told to return to Colombia after her baby was born. Now, her baby is 9 months old. Diaz is still here, with her baby, and without a Homeland Security ankle bracelet thanks to a presidential executive order.
"I have more over here," Diaz said. "I've been here 12 years. This is all I know."
Because Diaz was brought to the United States as a child, she qualifies for the presidential executive order, modeled after the proposed DREAM Act. She is one of 1.4 million people, brought here at children, who could gain permanent residency. Now, she hopes being the first to have her ankle bracelet removed sets a standard.
"Since I was the first one, that's a lot of hope," she said. "Now they see it was possible, so they can do it too."
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Diaz still could face deportation, but her attorney believes getting the ankle bracelet off is a step in the right direction and many others, like Diaz, are expected to follow.
