A woman detained by immigration officials in South Burlington last week was released from federal custody on Monday, while a man identified as the reason for the enforcement operation continues to evade capture. Johana Patin Patin, an Ecuadorian national, exited the federal courthouse in Burlington after a week of detention. The enforcement action began when she was taken from her residence, which has since become the focus of community protests.

Documents indicate that Patin Patin resides in a building previously used as an insurance office, where she lives with her husband, children, and two roommates. Although three people were arrested during the operation, she herself was not named in any arrest warrant. Patin Patin is currently pursuing an asylum application after arriving in the U.S. earlier this year and has been actively engaged in her community.

Supporters organized a rally on the day of her release, expressing their gratitude and emphasizing the improper nature of her detention. An advocate from Migrant Justice highlighted the significance of Patin Patin’s return home, arguing that her initial detention was unjust and should never have occurred.

The enforcement action that led to the protests centered on Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez from Mexico. Federal authorities claim he re-entered the country unlawfully following his removal in 2022. Attention on Corona-Sanchez intensified after he was involved in a DUI stop in Vermont earlier this year. Reports indicate that during an attempted apprehension on March 11, he allegedly struck federal vehicles with his car and subsequently fled on foot.

Currently, federal agents are searching for Corona-Sanchez and have shared his photograph with the public in an effort to locate him. However, advocates assert that he was not driving during the incident and was not physically present when the enforcement took place.

Meanwhile, Christian Jerez-Andrade, another individual apprehended at the same location, has a hearing rescheduled for Tuesday. His background shows he sought asylum in the U.S. in 2015, but specifics regarding his immigration status and progress are unclear. Additionally, Camila Patin Patin, the sister of Johana Patin Patin, also has an immigration case pending, with no scheduled court date reported as of Monday.