Support Grows for Arrested Illegal Librarian

Last Edited: Friday, 01 Aug 2008, 5:58 PM EDT
Created: Friday, 01 Aug 2008, 5:58 PM EDT

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By CARON MYERS
FOX8 News

http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Ho ... geId=1.1.1

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WGHP) – Marxavi Angel Martinez is in federal custody in Charlotte awaiting deportation.

As her deportation hearing approaches, money is coming in for her defense fund and to help feed her family. Thursday night in Elon, about 50 Martinez supporters turned out to raise support for allowing the Mexican national to stay in this country.

The 23-year-old former Alamance County librarian was arrested in mid-July as an illegal immigrant. Her parents brought her to the U.S. when she was 3.

"There's constant fear, due to her case, now everybody else is fearing if one person in the family gets caught, then the whole family will be persecuted, just like her family was," said family friend Iris Henriquez.

Martinez's husband, Marcos Miranda also was arrested in July.

"He was put in jail shortly after she was," said Henriquez.

Martinez's mother, father and sister have turned themselves over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. All face deportation.

Family friends said Martinez's parents were allowed to visit with their daughter Thursday.

Another family friend, Marilyn Tyler, said she is in the process of setting up a fund for the family. As for Martinez's 16-month old son, family members are said to be taking care of him.