Detained mother speaks out for first time after incident at I-35 checkpoint

LAREDO, Texas (KGNS) – Last week, prominent Laredo immigration attorney Nelly Vielma and her client Monica Roque were arrested at the I-35 checkpoint while attempting to enter San Antonio for a medical emergency.

Roque, a mother of three who has applied for residency in the United States, rushed to her son who was undergoing emergency brain surgery.

News of her detention spread on social media, and now Roque is speaking out about her experience.

Roque, whose name has not been publicly released, said that both she and Vielma were arrested despite presenting papers to officials at the checkpoint and asking for help. Roque alleges that CBP officers forced her to make statements under pressure while she was in custody.

“I didn’t think the agents would treat me like that,” Roque said. “They forced me to say things I didn’t want to say and later took me to the detention center on Highway 83.”

KGNS reached out to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for comment on the incident but did not receive an immediate response.

Vielma shared her perspective on the situation last week, calling it “unfortunate” that what would normally take two to three hours ended up taking three days.

Roque was finally able to see her son before he died.

“Your son still waited and hesitated until this last day. We were able to escort her to make sure she got through the checkpoint,” Vielma said. “We were able to accompany her in the hospice and her son held on for mom. He let go after hearing his mother.”

Immigration lawyers, including Vielma, advise anyone facing similar emergencies to first seek legal advice before taking action to avoid situations like this.

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