A judge approved bond Tuesday for an El Monte mother, who cares for a daughter with cancer, after she was taken into immigration custody last month. Mekahlo Medina reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
A judge approved bond Tuesday for an El Monte mother, who cares for a daughter with cancer, after she was taken into immigration custody last month.
Yolanda Perez, 50, was taken into custody on Feb. 24. Last week, she saw a judge for her first immigration hearing at a detention center in San Diego, during which her attorney filed a request for a hearing to determine if Perez could be released on bond.
On Tuesday morning, a judge approved bond for Perez, but it was not immediately clear when she will be released. Bond was set at $1,500.
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Xitlali Tejeda, her 20-year-old daughter, traveled from El Monte to San Diego on Thursday morning for the initial hearing, but the proceedings lasted just a few minutes and were over before Tejeda made it inside.
Tejeda said her mother is like her "right hand." She relies on her mother as a primary caretaker after chemotherapy treatments.
Tejeda spoke to NBCLA after Tuesday's bond hearing.
"I was really nervous coming in this morning," she said. "But I had hope for her. I had hope for the court. I knew she was going to be let out. She's a great person. I need her."
Yolanda was arrested outside her El Monte home in February as immigration agents targeted her son Johnathan, who is also undocumented but had multiple non-violent convictions for drug possession.
David Acalin, the family's attorney, said Johnathan did his time and went to rehab. A court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in his case.
“It's literally a life and death situation,” Acalin said. “The daughter is gravely ill. She needs the mother as her full-time caretaker to take her to her doctors, to the treatments.”
Perez had a misdemeanor charge from 20 years ago for shoplifting. Acalin said she stole food to eat.
“Clearly this person is not a national security risk or a danger to society,” said Acalin. “In criminal court, this is the equivalent of a bad speeding ticket.”
Acalin said she paid a fine and restitution and the case was closed years ago.
It was not immediately clear when deportation proceedings against Perez will move forward.
