Statement on Behalf of Yessenia Ruano
[Milwaukee, WI] – On June 2, 2025, Ms. Yessenia Ruano submitted a formal Request for Stay of Removal to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), asking the agency to delay her deportation until a decision is issued on her pending T Visa application for survivors of human trafficking.
It is important to note that filing a stay of removal does not prevent ICE from carrying out a deportation order while the request is under review, and no specific timeframe is guaranteed for a decision. Nevertheless, Ms. Ruano, her legal advocates and the community remain hopeful that ICE will take into account the humanitarian gravity of her case.
Ms. Ruano is a survivor of severe violence in El Salvador and has endured exploitation consistent with human trafficking. Since arriving in the United States, she has made significant contributions to the community, including years of service in the public school system, positively impacting the lives of countless students.
“Ms. Ruano is overwhelmed with gratitude for the compassion and support so many have shown,” her legal team said. “She has survived unimaginable trauma and still found the strength to give so much to her community, especially to the many area students whose lives she’s touched. All we ask is that she be allowed to stay—at least until her T Visa is decided—so she is not sent back into the very danger she fled.”
Supporters are encouraged to continue raising awareness and advocating for compassionate discretion in her case.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
