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“Melly-Mel” released on bail
…accused of overstaying visa
Kaieteur News- More than two weeks after social media activist Melissa ‘Melly Mel’ Atwell-Holder was detained in the United States, she was released on Friday on US$7,500 bail for overstaying her visa, when she made her first appearance before a US Immigration Judge.
Social media activist, Mellissa Atwell-Holder
Atwell-Holder virtually appeared before Judge Francis Mwangi from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Center in Louisiana. Her lawyer, Joyce Booth, told the court that Atwell-Holder entered the US in 2022 and has been married to a US citizen, Paul Holder, for the past two years. “Your honour, my client is married to a US citizen, there is an approved I1-30 and there is also a pending I-485 in the system, so she is eligible to adjust,” the lawyer said. She noted that the I-485 has been pending since September 2023. She added that Atwell-Holder did an interview last year and since then she been waiting on the approval of the I-485.
Judge Mwangi asked why Atwell-Holder was in proceedings, given that she has an approved I1-30 and a pending I-485. “We have no idea, she was unexpectedly detained two weeks ago, ICE just showed up at her door in Brooklyn,” Booth told the court.
The I1-30 is a form filed to petition for an immediate or close relative who is not currently a US citizen to immigrate to the United States. The I-1485 is an application to register permanent residence or adjust status. This is used to apply for a green card, lawful permanent residence, for someone who is already in the United States and wish to adjust their immigration status.
For their part, a representative of the Department of Homeland Security said that according to the Notice to Appear (NTA) that was filed is in relation to a visa overstay, and clarified that there are no other charges against Atwell-Holder. To this end, the judge enquired, given that Atwell-Holder is married to a US citizen, if she would not get a waiver from the overstay charge. He then asked for the lawyer to submit a copy of the I-485, a copy of the approved I1-30, as well as the birth certificate of the Paul Holder. These documents are to be submitted to the court by April 18, 2025.
Moreover, in relation to the bond application, Holder’s lawyer noted that her client has no criminal history, is not a danger to national security and is not a flight risk. Booth contended that her client’s detention is still a mystery and pleaded for bond in a reasonable amount. The representative of the DHS acknowledged that the I1-30 has been approved, and a pending I-1485. It was also stated that according to their background check, Holder does not have a criminal history. The representative did not make any objection to bond being granted to Holder, but left it up to the court to decide. Judge Mwangi then granted bail in the sum of US$7,500. Upon posting this sum Atwell-Holder will be released.
“Melly-Mel” released on bail
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