Immigration lawyer talks about BP arrest, an incident that occurred at the I-35 checkpoint

LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – An immigration attorney arrested over the weekend is telling her side of the story.

This incident has generated considerable attention and debate in our community.

Nelly Vielma, a former Laredo city councilor and respected immigration attorney, found herself in an unexpected legal predicament while trying to help her client.

On Saturday, September 21, Vielma and her client were arrested at the Border Patrol checkpoint on I-35.

Vielma represents a woman who is trying to obtain a residency permit for the United States.

At the checkpoint, Vielma explained to the officers that it was a family emergency and presented the officers with her summons as authorized representative.

She explained how urgent the situation was because her client's son needed to undergo emergency brain surgery in San Antonio.

“I am a U.S. citizen, here is my client, here is my barcode, my ID, and here is the document she signed, representing her before you. I am asking if you can process her immigration request or exercise your prosecutorial discretion and let her go through the checkpoint so she can see her dying son,” Vielma said, describing the conversation.

Despite their efforts, Vielma and her client were arrested.

Vielma was released the next day without charge.

On Tuesday, September 24, Vielma spoke exclusively with our sister station Telenoticias KGNS after news of her alleged detention broke on social media.

Vielma came to clear her name and tell her side of the story. KGNS also reached out to CBP for comment and received the following statement:

“For privacy reasons, CBP cannot comment on individual cases.”

Jose Salvador, an immigration and criminal defense attorney in Laredo, has experience helping clients in similar situations.

“I've experienced this situation several times where people have come to me and said I have a sick child. I have to take him to Driscoll Children's Hospital or Methodist Hospital in San Antonio,” Salvador said.

In Salvador's experience, several of his clients have successfully passed the checkpoint. However, there have also been exceptions where some of his clients have not been so lucky.

“The person is taken back to Laredo and told, 'We are not letting you through the checkpoint.' In my experience, no one has been arrested at the checkpoint when presenting such a letter,” Salvador added.

Despite the result, Vielma says she will continue to fight for her client.

As of Wednesday, September 25, Vielma's client has been released from CBP custody.

Vielma stressed that her client had entered the country legally, had no criminal record and was not subject to prosecution.

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