Federal authorities have released new details regarding the July 15 arrest of a woman by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Chaparral, Texas, following public concern over the incident.
The encounter drew attention after video circulated showing the woman entering a local convenience store and asking for help, saying she was being followed by agents.
The Department of Homeland Security identified the individual as Martha Sias, a Mexican national and lawful permanent resident.
DHS stated that Sias was taken into custody during a targeted immigration enforcement operation and is a convicted methamphetamine trafficker.
Officials noted that as a green card holder, Sias is subject to removal proceedings due to her criminal history and will receive full due process, including an upcoming hearing.
The agency emphasized that lawful permanent residency is a privilege rather than a right, and that federal law permits revocation of a green card when laws are violated.
Court documents obtained in the case detail a January 2022 drug seizure linked to Sias.
According to the affidavit, Sias crossed from Ciudad Juarez into El Paso with her husband in a Ford Expedition on January 12, 2022.
A portable X-ray scan by border officers revealed anomalies in the vehicle’s rear door panels.
A secondary inspection uncovered 18 bundles of methamphetamine, weighing roughly 20 pounds, concealed within the doors.
Sias later pleaded guilty to manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance and was sentenced to 10 years of probation with 400 hours of community service.
