Columbia County residents who feared a local woman would be deported are breathing a sigh of relief.
In an uncertain time for immigrants, the Columbia County Sanctuary Movement accompanied Elsa Martinez for a check-in Wednesday at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Latham office. The 48-year-old Hudson resident, who has been fighting to stay in the U.S. for decades, had feared the check-in would turn into a deportation, even though she has lived in the states for 27 years and her five U.S.-born children all attended Hudson High School. Activist Brian McCormick says agents told her she will not be deported at this time. Attorneys are hopeful they will obtain permanent resident status for Martinez.