• Carol Mayorga, a mother of three and beloved community member in Kennett, Missouri, was detained by immigration officials despite living under supervision for over a decade and complying with all orders.
• Her detention has sparked outrage in her community, leading to fundraisers, petitions to Congress, and widespread support for her release as her children, all U.S. citizens, struggle in her absence.
• Mayorga’s case highlights tensions between strict immigration policies and their impact on families and communities, prompting calls for more compassionate enforcement.

A rural Missouri community is rallying to support Carol Mayorga, a mother of three and beloved local resident, after she was detained by federal immigration officials in late April. Mayorga, 49, who came to the U.S. from Hong Kong over 20 years ago, now faces potential deportation as her community fights to keep her in the country.

Beloved Community Member Detained After Routine Immigration Meeting

Mayorga, whose legal name is Ming Li Hui, had been living under a federal order of supervision for more than a decade, which allowed her to remain in the U.S. despite a deportation order issued in 2007. On April 30, she was called to an immigration office in St. Louis for what she believed was a routine meeting. Instead, she was arrested, shackled, and detained for hours. Officials later transferred her to multiple jails across Missouri.

“She thought it was just a normal meeting,” said Lisa Dry, a friend and member of the Kennett City Council. “But they chained her and left her in a room for seven hours.”

A Community Fights Back

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News of Mayorga’s detention quickly spread through Kennett, a small farming town where she has become a well-known figure. Mayorga works at John’s Waffle & Pancake House, where her dedication and uplifting personality have earned her the admiration of customers and colleagues alike.

Her employers organized a fundraiser, “Carol Day,” which raised nearly $20,000 to support her legal efforts. Local officials and community members have also petitioned Congress for help.

“Carol is the heart of this town,” said Liridona Ramadani, whose family owns the diner. “She’s a wonderful mother and an incredible employee. She’s the kind of person who shows up every day with a smile and steps in whenever someone can’t make it.”

A Family in Crisis

Mayorga’s three children, all U.S. citizens, are struggling in her absence. Her oldest son, who has autism, has been particularly affected. The family’s attorney, Raymond Bolourtchi, said Mayorga’s children are unaware of the full gravity of the situation but have expressed a desire to follow their mother to Hong Kong if she is deported.

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“She expects to be homeless if deported,” Dry said. “She has no family left in Hong Kong and doesn’t want to bring her kids into that situation.”

Mayorga was initially denied asylum after citing abuse by her mother in Hong Kong. Her legal status has remained complicated ever since, with her deportation order lingering for over a decade. Bolourtchi explained that her circumstances changed after having children, leading the government to allow her to stay under supervision and granting her work authorization.

“She’s complied with every government order,” Bolourtchi said. “She’s not a flight risk and poses no danger to anyone.”

Local Support Clashes With National Policy

Mayorga’s case sheds light on the broader impact of President Donald Trump’s strict immigration policies, which have targeted individuals with longstanding ties to their communities. Kennett, where Trump won 80% of the vote in 2016, is grappling with the tension between supporting their neighbor and backing the administration’s immigration agenda.

“I still support Trump, but I don’t agree with what happened to Carol,” one resident commented on social media.

Dry noted that many in the community struggle to reconcile their support for tougher immigration laws with the reality of cases like Mayorga’s. “People here voted for policies they thought would deport criminals or gang members, not people like Carol,” Dry said.

What Happens Next?

Mayorga remains detained at the Greene County Jail in Springfield, Missouri, as Bolourtchi works to reopen her case and request an emergency stay of deportation. He argues that there is no justification for her detention while her case is pending.

“If the government wants her to leave, fine,” Bolourtchi said. “But there’s no reason to keep her in jail. She’s a mother to three kids, not a threat to anyone.”

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