Manuela Hernandez, a Colombian woman detained since December at the California City Detention Center, is facing an appeal deadline as friends and supporters raise concerns about her treatment in custody and the circumstances surrounding her detention.
Hernandez has been living in Bakersfield for the past four years, according to friends and supporters, who say she applied for asylum under the Biden administration and had been attending regular immigration status check-ins.
Giovanni Gomez, who works with Hernandez at his ranch, said she was detained during her last check-in on Dec. 9.
“As part of the program she’s under the asylum.. and that day they called her and she went out there and she never came back,” Gomez said.
Gomez said Hernandez described being restrained and placed in a cold room after being taken into custody and transferred from Bakersfield.
“She said that when she got captured, and they moved her from Bakersfield to the facility, they just put her some chains in her feet, and then in her hands, and they put them in the cold room,” he said.
Alexander Gomez, Giovanni’s son also works closely to Hernandez and described her as more than just a friend, but more like a relative.
“Manuela has been to our family almost like an older sister,” he said, adding that she loves working with horses.
Hernandez left Colombia in 2022 in fear of being persecuted in her country. She came to the United States hoping for a better life and to live the American dream of being free.
During an interview, Hernandez said over the phone that she has experienced inhumane treatment at the detention center, according to Alexander Gomez, who said she reported extremely cold conditions, illness among detainees and poor food.
“She’s mentioned that they turn on the AC coolers as cold as it can go, and they all have a cold, they’re sick, and the food they get is just, like, you know BAD, and that’s why she always has the stomach bug, she can’t eat. She’s always vomiting, and she receives IV, transplants or certain things, to help her, because it’s killing her with all due respect,” Alexander Gomez said.
When it comes to how Hernandez is holding up emotionally she says, she might need psychological help due to the mistreatment she’s been experiencing.
Giovanni said he has spent a large amount of money on attorney fees in an effort to help Hernandez but, says it has not led to progress in her case.
“And then, uh, her attorney, instead of helping her out, he’s the one that told her to sign for self deportation” says Gomez.
Hernandez’s friends and supporters say she has until the end of April to file an appeal in her case in Bakersfield.