Concerns Rise as Providence Teen Awaits Asylum Hearing

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News Summary

Vivian Gisselle Soriano-Neto, an 18-year-old from Providence, is detained by ICE while awaiting an asylum hearing in Colorado. Her sudden transfer has raised concerns and confusion regarding her judicial process, as serious criminal charges loom over her. Advocacy groups express worry about her future in the U.S. amidst ongoing legal challenges and delays in case processing.

Providence, Rhode Island – Vivian Gisselle Soriano-Neto, an 18-year-old from Providence, is currently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as she awaits an immigration court hearing for her asylum request, which is scheduled for September 18 in Colorado. Soriano-Neto was transferred from an ICE detention facility in Maine to the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, just days before her originally scheduled court hearing in June in Massachusetts. This sudden relocation has raised concerns as it resulted in a change of jurisdiction for her case, creating confusion regarding the scheduling of her hearing.

Soriano-Neto’s immigration attorney has expressed hope that her criminal case may resolve prior to the hearing, which could allow her to seek different forms of legal relief. The attorney’s optimism stems from the fact that Vivian has been dealing with serious legal challenges. Arrested by Providence police in February, she faces charges of indecent solicitation of a child and trafficking of a minor. However, her attorneys argue that these charges are based on accusations made without evidence by a friend involved in sex work.

At the time of her arrest, Soriano-Neto was a student at Mount Pleasant High School but is no longer enrolled. The emotional strain of her prolonged detention and separation from her familiar support system has been significant, according to her attorney. Soriano-Neto is a Honduran national who unlawfully entered the U.S. in 2017 when she was around 10 years old, with previous plans set for a pathway to legal residency.

Concerns have mounted regarding her ability to face her criminal charges in Providence County before possibly being deported. It is noted that bringing clients back from ICE custody to Rhode Island for court appearances can be arduous. Furthermore, if she fails to appear in court, it could result in a permanent ban on her reentry into the United States.

As the situation develops, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office typically takes up to six months to review felony cases, which means a decision regarding Soriano-Neto’s criminal case is expected by late August. ICE has publicly accused Soriano-Neto of trafficking a child for inappropriate purposes, a claim that has drawn criticism from her defense team, who argue that these allegations are unfounded. ICE representatives cited “bed space management” as the rationale for Soriano-Neto’s transfer, denying any claims of retaliation related to her case’s situation.

Soriano-Neto’s family, now back in Honduras, is preparing to potentially welcome her should she face deportation. In light of her family’s departure, her attorney is now taking on her case pro bono, reflecting the complexities and challenges faced by individuals navigating the U.S. immigration system under dire circumstances.

As the September hearing date approaches, the outcome of Vivian Gisselle Soriano-Neto’s asylum request and her ongoing legal challenges remain uncertain, continuing to draw attention from advocates concerned about the implications for her future and the treatment of immigrants within the judicial system.