Guild and CASA Rally Support to Prevent Deportation of Member

A young Fredericksburg mother and union member is facing deportation back to the abuse that she fled 14 years ago. Wendy Soveida Uruchi Contreras (at right), a Washington-Baltimore News Guild (WBNG) member who works at CASA de Maryland, is in deportation proceedings after being picked up by Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently. She fled Spain in 2002 after enduring years of abuse from her alcoholic stepfather. She's now married and has two young children born here in the United States. CASA is leading a campaign on Contreras' behalf, reaching out to organizations and institutions she has worked with for letters of support and on Sunday WBNG sent a letter of support to the Department of Homeland Security. "Wendy has been a model employee at CASA fighting for the benefits of all people," wrote Guild Executive Director Cet Parks, "Wendy is a huge contributor to our American community." Metro Council Executive Director Carlos Jimenez has also sent a letter of support and nearly 500 people have already signed a petition supporting Contreras. 

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