Marta’s Story
Marta spent 339 days in the Greene County Jail for ICE. This is her story.
Pastor Robert Perry
5/12/20262 min read
I first visited Marta on January 20, 2026. She was originally detained on May 23, 2025. Abide in Love, Southern Missouri Immigration Alliance and Immigrant Justice Collaborative worked together to help her get an attorney and fight deportation. Many times, during her detention ICE tried to persuade her to sign papers for voluntary deportation. She consistently refused to sign. She said, “I don’t believe it is God’s will for me to sign, so I won’t sign anything.”
Yesterday, rather suddenly and unexpectedly, she was released! Her attorney called Pat L. to let her know Marta was getting out. I got a call about 1:00pm that the groups mentioned were planning an impromptu welcome to freedom event for her at 2:45pm, complete with a poster, flowers and balloons. When we greeted her on the jail parking lot she literally fell to her knees praising and thanking God that she was free. We picked her up from the jail and took her to our home where Alyssa L. brought items she had shopped for: A suitcase, purse, wallet with cash, clothing, shoes, a mobile phone, toiletries, etc. We got her a bus ticket to her home town about 500 miles from Springfield and dropped her off at the bus terminal that evening.
Arrangements had been made by her attorney for her to stay at a women’s shelter until she could get her life established again. Marta had come to the US three years ago legally seeking asylum from a war-torn Caribbean country. She had followed all the rules but was arrested, handcuffed and all, and sent to Greene County. She had a good job which she hopes to get back. She was very active in her church and looks forward to being back with her church family.
Of the 28 detainees I have visited and prayed with, Marta is one of only four who have been released rather than deported. The poster says she has experienced a miracle, and she fully believes that. I do too.
