NBC News reported on the case of Jessica Barahona-Martínez. She is an asylum seeker from El Salvador. Barahona-Martínez spent six years in U.S. immigration detention. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested her in 2017. This happened a year after she fled persecution. The arrest was based on an Interpol Red Notice. This international police bulletin is typically used for serious crimes.

The Problem with Red Notices

An Interpol Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant. It is a request for law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and arrest a person temporarily. This is done while awaiting extradition. The notice is based on a valid arrest warrant from a member country. However, some countries have a history of abusing the system. They use it to target political opponents, journalists, and activists.

Jessica Barahona-Martínez’s Case

Jessica Barahona-Martínez, a lesbian woman, fled El Salvador in 2016. A local police officer had harassed and assaulted her. He then filed false charges against her. The charges were for extortion and gang affiliation. She was acquitted of the charges in El Salvador. However, after she fled to the U.S., the government sought to retry her. It issued an Interpol Red Notice.

Even though an immigration judge granted her asylum twice, she remained in detention for six years. The U.S. government cited the Red Notice as a reason to bar her from asylum. They did so under the “serious non-political crime” rule. Her lawyers and human rights groups argued the notice was politically motivated. They said it was an act of persecution by the Salvadoran government. They succeeded in getting Interpol to delete the notice. Yet, U.S. immigration authorities still kept her in detention. Her long detention shows a major issue. The U.S. government relies on information from foreign countries, even when it is questionable.

Why This Matters to Advocates

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and other advocates have raised concerns. They argue that immigration judges and DHS often fail to review Red Notices carefully. They assume the notices are reliable evidence of criminal activity. This can lead to wrongful detention and asylum denials for victims of persecution.

Experts, including those at AILA, have issued practice alerts. They have also written blog posts. These materials inform attorneys and the public about the abuse of the Interpol system. They are working to find solutions. Their goal is to better protect asylum seekers targeted by their home governments. The case of Jessica Barahona-Martínez has become a prominent example. Advocates use it to call for reform in how U.S. immigration authorities handle Interpol notices.