The moral of the story is that you should not call the police for help unless it is absolutely necessary. If you or any of your family are not here legally, even if they are with a certain status, there is a strong chance they will be deported. Things have changed here in Houston and throughout the country. Protect your family.
An immigrant woman with mental health issues is in ICE custody after Houston police took her to the Harris County Jail, despite her family initially pleading with officers to instead transport her to a local hospital for treatment.
Advocates said Friday that Reyna González Ortega’s incarceration – and possible deportation – stems from a change in the Houston Police Department’s protocols in how officers respond to migrants suffering from mental-health episodes.
Her family said she suffers from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety. She was taken into custody July 1 after her husband called Houston police seeking help taking her to a medical facility for treatment, her husband, Luis Medrano, told reporters Friday morning.
The man told officers his wife suffered from mental health issues and hadn’t been taking her medication. When an officer asked if she planned to hurt herself or others, she told them “no,” according to a department spokeswoman.
They tell the police that she has mental problems, the police ask her and believe her, and not the husband. They could have easily looked to see if there had been other calls from them.