Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales, a 22-year-old woman born in Maryland, has been held in immigration detention for several days, despite possessing a valid birth certificate and other documentation that ICE has deemed inauthentic. Diaz Morales, who spent part of her childhood in Mexico, was detained after a traffic stop in Baltimore, where law enforcement officers surrounded her vehicle and took her into custody, reportedly ignoring her sister's assertions of her citizenship.

Shirley Elvirita, Diaz Morales' 17-year-old sister, described the incident as racially discriminatory, noting that officers focused on her sister, who has darker skin, while disregarding their identifications. Diaz Morales' attorney, Victoria Slatton, expressed concern over the lack of a legitimate reason for her sister's detention and the absence of evidence that law enforcement was specifically seeking her.

Following her arrest, Diaz Morales was initially held at the Baltimore ICE office before being transferred to a facility in Louisiana, a move that has raised alarms among her legal team, particularly given Louisiana's reputation as a deportation hub. Despite ongoing legal efforts to secure her release, Diaz Morales has reportedly not been able to consult with her attorney since her detention began.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson issued a standing order preventing ICE from removing Diaz Morales from the United States while her case is under review, emphasizing the jurisdictional issues at play. The judge's order aims to preserve the court's authority over the matter and protect Diaz Morales' legal status during the proceedings.

ICE's Online Detainee Locator System lists Diaz Morales under a variation of her name and indicates her detention in Louisiana, although the accuracy of this information is often questionable. Her attorneys have provided multiple documents to ICE to verify her citizenship, including her birth certificate from Laurel, Maryland, but ICE continues to dispute their authenticity.

The Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated that Diaz Morales is not a U.S. citizen and has labeled her an illegal alien from Mexico. However, her legal representatives maintain that she is a U.S. citizen by birth and that her right to return to the country is protected under U.S. law. The situation highlights ongoing concerns regarding the treatment of individuals within the immigration system, particularly those who may face discrimination based on race or ethnicity.