A Venezuelan woman who graduated from St. Thomas University and lives in South Florida was released by ICE on Monday after being detained nearly three weeks ago by agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as she tried to travel to North Carolina.

Claudia Rodríguez’s relatives, along with local politicians, had called for her release last week outside the Pompano detention center where she was being held.

“She arrived in 2017 legally. We’re Venezuelan. She applied for asylum,” Gabriel Domínguez, the woman’s cousin, said at the time. “During the process, she was granted TPS, the (temporary) protection order, and she was waiting for her court date. She had no violations or crimes — nothing — and while she was going through the process, they detained her.”

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz showed up to an ICE detention facility in Pompano Beach for a surprise visit.

“Claudia had no criminal record. Her detention is unacceptable,” South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman said. “I was able to speak with her, and she told us about the terrible conditions she experienced while detained at the Miramar center for eight days. That’s not allowed — that’s a transitional facility.”

Gabriel Domínguez said a few days ago that she had been sleeping on the floor, had lost 15 pounds, and was in a cell with 75 people in a small space without being able to shower.

“She spent eight days in that hell,” Domínguez said.

Claudia’s cousin described her as an exemplary athlete and dedicated student who finished her master’s degree in business administration last year.

“My cousin is one of the most impressive women (I know). She loves her family and sports. We can’t let fear take away our humanity,” Domínguez said.

ICE said that from July 1 to July 26 in the Miami area, 5,605 undocumented immigrants were detained, and regarding Venezuelans with TPS, it added: “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela on November 20, 2025.”

“Temporary means temporary. TPS was never intended to be a de facto amnesty program; however, that is how previous administrations used it for decades. The Trump administration is restoring the integrity of our immigration system to keep our homeland and its people safe. We have the law, the facts, and common sense on our side,” ICE said in its statement.

This story was translated from Spanish with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. An NBC6 editor reviewed the translation.