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Venezuelan woman with master's degree detained by ICE, released after congresswoman's intervention

Aug 3, 2026·Location: Pompano Beach, FL

Country of origin: Venezuela

Venezuelan woman with master's degree detained by ICE, released after congresswoman's intervention
Photo via nbcmiami.com

Claudia Rodríguez, a 29-year-old Venezuelan immigrant who earned her master's degree in business administration from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, was detained by ICE at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in July while attempting to board a flight to North Carolina. Rodríguez arrived in the U.S. legally in 2017 on a tourist visa, applied for asylum within six months, and was granted Temporary Protected Status in 2023 while her asylum case remains pending. She was transferred between two South Florida detention facilities, spending eight days at the ICE office in Miramar in severely overcrowded conditions—sleeping on floors in a cell with 75 people, unable to shower or change clothes, and losing 15 pounds. Her cousin Gabriel Domínguez described her as an exemplary athlete with no criminal record. U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited the Miramar facility to advocate for her release, calling the detention "unacceptable." Rodríguez was released on Monday evening.

Timeline

Aug 3, 2026—U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz visited detention facility to advocate for release; Rodríguez released Monday evening
Jul 2026—Detained by ICE agents at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport while attempting to board flight to North Carolina
Jul 2026—Transferred to ICE office in Miramar; held for eight days in overcrowded conditions with inadequate food, sanitation, and sleeping accommodations
Jul 2026—Moved to Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach
2023—Granted Temporary Protected Status while asylum case remains pending
2017—Claudia Rodríguez arrived in the U.S. legally on a tourist visa
2017—Applied for asylum within six months of arrival
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