Mariola Perez, a Guatemalan genocide survivor and paraprofessional educator in Lynn, Massachusetts, was placed in removal proceedings after a 2013 traffic stop led to ICE involvement. After 16 years in the U.S., she was ordered to report to ICE in Burlington on May 11, 2026, facing possible detention and deportation. Community members, city officials, teachers, and advocates rallied in her support, with over 4,500 people signing a petition. At her scheduled ICE appointment on May 11, Perez was not detained; instead, she was granted a reasonable fear interview and scheduled for another check-in in November. Her case gained attention partly due to concerns about the impact on her 15-year-old U.S. citizen son, who has complex medical needs.