It's been almost six months since Allison Bustillo, a young nurse of Honduran origin, was arrested during a chaotic operation carried out by agents from different federal agencies who burst into her Charlotte home armed on the morning of February 20 while searching for another person.
The young woman, who suffers from scoliosis, was her mother Keily Chinchilla's right-hand woman in caring for her younger siblings, one of whom has severe autism.
Although Keily and her 17-year-old son ended up arrested Along with Allison, only the young woman was deprived of her liberty and days later she was transferred to the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin (Georgia), where she has remained since February 26.
Updated: Judge grants Allison Bustillo voluntary departure from the U.S.
Her health deteriorates every day
Allison has been able to communicate with her mother through video calls, and told her that her health has deteriorated significantly due to the unsanitary conditions at this immigration prison.
“She also sends me messages telling me everything she's been through in confinement, how her health feels when she's very sick, and when she's not getting medical attention. Her health is deteriorating every day, and that has me very worried that she won't make it,” Keily told Enlace Latino NC.
She also said that her daughter "feels so sick, she was on the verge of requesting voluntary discharge. Allison doesn't want to wait any longer in that place; she's physically and mentally exhausted."
An arduous fight to save her daughter
Keily has not stopped fighting and seeking help to save herself from confinement and deportation to her daughter, as we tell in an article published in June.
Allison has been an exemplary young woman who arrived with her mother and two of her siblings to North Carolina from Honduras at the age of 8.
She graduated from Cleveland Community College with a degree in nursing assistant, and also earned a scholarship of $60,000 to continue her university studies, but which she was unable to take advantage of due to her irregular immigration status.
Her mother went to a Georgia senator to try to advocate for her release, but she told us that although the senator sent officials from his office, no progress was made because Allison does not live in that state.
Related: Which North Carolina counties have the most ICE arrests?
An uncertain case
Allison's case has been in the hands of various expert immigration lawyers, to try to get one bail, but it has not been granted.
Keily said that because Allison has no criminal record, the lawyers have filed everything from a Habeas Corpus petition to a asylum application, but the federal authorities have not been able to grant her any kind of relief.
"Her case is uncertain, since the people in power don't want to help her. I don't understand why they allow so much abuse from people in those positions." detention centers", said Keily.
The mother said that Allison's next court could be in September or October.
Campaign to achieve his release
Allison's story has been featured in several local and national media outlets and shared hundreds of times on Facebook.
Several influencers have also been sensitized to her case and have created support campaigns, as did Christina Magaña.
“She was taken from her home. Now, she may not survive ICE detention,” Magaña wrote in a Facebook post.
"She has severe scoliosis and chronic pain. She doesn't get medical care, and it's getting worse," the message continues.
Magaña also writes that Allison is forced to sleep on the floor, she is denied medicine, is in constant pain and also has numbness in her face and extremities.
"She suffers from bloody stools, fainting spells, and dangerously low blood pressure. Her condition worsens every day. Her mother fears she won't make it to her September court date alive. We need her out now," Magaña said.
Related: More than 50,000 people detained by ICE as of June 1, 2025: the highest number in six years
What are they asking for to try to secure the release of Allison Bustillo Chinchilla?
In the post, Magaña asks the community to try various options to help in Allison's case: "Time is running out. Let's bring Allison home to her family," she writes.
- Call the Stewart Detention Center to request her release at: 229-838-5000
- Donate to GofundMe to help pay for his legal representation. The goal is $28,000. $27,595 has already been donated by 837 donors.
- Share her story on social media and the media.
- Contact North Carolina state and federal representatives:
State representatives
Kelly E. Hastings (Republican) at: 919-715-2002
Paul Scott (Republican) at: 919-733-4838
state senate
W. Ted Alexander (Republican) at: 919-715-0690
federal congress
Tim Moore (Republican) at: 202-225-5634
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As I am reading this, I am very bothered by all the references to her as “him”. If shared, those who don't want to believe it, will point at it as “fake nees” because of the way the article is written. How was this not proofread and corrected before publication?
Hello Maureen, thank you very much for taking the time to point this out. You are absolutely right — the English version incorrectly referred to Allison as “him” in several parts of the article. We regret the confusion this may have caused.
This has now been corrected so that the translation reflects the information accurately. Your observation helped us catch this mistake and improve the article.
We truly appreciate your careful reading and your feedback.