Karla Saenz, a 26-year-old transgender woman from Colombia, told Tucson NBC affiliate KVOA that she was housed in a men’s unit at the Eloy Detention Center for over a month, where she claims to have faced harassment, sexual violence, and degrading conditions. Saenz said, “They did not give us enough food, and I spent a week without being allowed to bathe.” She also said ICE delayed her access to hormone therapy.
Saenz, an organizer with Trans Queer Pueblo, was arrested in March during a scheduled ICE check-in. Advocates allege her arrest may have been linked to her activism supporting another detained queer immigrant. Activist Cristen Pointer shared details about the arrest, saying, “They took us to a back room and said Karla had an arrest warrant, but they did not provide one. They handcuffed Karla and took her away.”
A federal judge ordered Saenz’s release earlier this month, ruling that ICE failed to follow its own procedures. However, the court did not make findings on her abuse allegations. Saenz fled Colombia in 2024, citing violence, persecution, and repeated sexual assault, including alleged kidnapping by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. She is currently seeking asylum in the United States.
