Lynn Tramonte
Nov 11, 2025: Margarita Asicona Avilés, an Ixil woman from Homestead, Florida, has been held for days in a local jail, separated from her children, without an interpreter to explain what is happening, or help her communicate with attorneys and the court. She is facing criminal charges, and possibly deportation and the loss of custody of her children. The confusion and terror Ms. Asicona Avilés must feel, without being able to fully express herself, is unimaginable.
On November 11, Comunidad Sol, the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, and allies sent a letter to the Guatemalan Consulate in Florida, asking them to urgently intervene and help this 38 year-old indigenous woman woman obtain information, support, and justice in her case. Read the letter in English and Spanish.
In their letter, the organizations explain that the court’s failure to provide Ms. Asicona Avilés with an appropriate interpreter “violates fundamental human rights, especially the linguistic and cultural rights recognized by the Guatemalan Constitution and in international conventions like the ILO Convention 169.” It is the duty of the Guatemalan government to “guarantee a just process that respects Ms. Asicona Avilés’ cultural identity.” The consulate must “immediately coordinate with organizations who provide interpretation to resolve the lack of interpretation, which has impeded the advancement of this judicial process.”
“Our community is watching this case closely, as it represents not only one person’s situation, but the treatment that Guatemalan indigenous people receive abroad. We are confident that the Consulate will act with the diligence, sensitivity, and commitment that this case demands,” the organizations conclude.
The letter was signed by Comunidad Sol, a group founded in Ohio with connections to indigenous communities across the United States; Ohio Immigrant Alliance; Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim; Borderlands Resource Initiative; Hispanics in Philanthropy; Trans Queer Pueblo; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team; Miami Valley Immigration Coalition; Florida International Solidarity Collective; and ceiba colectiva – chicago.
Comunidad Sol, an organization created and led by young Indigenous women and youth displaced to Ohio, who received a call for help from women leaders in their territories in Guatemala to bring visibility to Margarita’s case, states: “This is nothing new from the Guatemalan government or from any government. Being referred to solely as ‘Latinas’ or ‘Hispanics’ constitutes a form of structural violence that has been perpetuated for centuries.”
Meanwhile, Ohio Immigrant Alliance, with deep respect, stands in solidarity with this process, recognizing and honoring the autonomy of Indigenous Peoples to speak for themselves.
Said Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, “We might think we have a justice ‘system,’ but Margarita Asicona Avilés and her children are not cogs in a machine. They are human beings. Right now, she needs an interpreter who can explain what is happening, in the language she best understands, and help her speak to her attorney and the court in her own words. The issues in this case are too important to let her and her children be swallowed up and lost in a system that has already separated too many families. The institutions involved need to keep her and her family’s humanity at the core.”
Solicitud urgente de intervención consular en el caso de la mujer Maya Ixil, Margarita Asicona Avilés
Estimados Cónsules de Guatemala en Florida, Estados Unidos:
Reciban un cordial saludo. Desde el estado de Ohio, la organización indígena Comunidad Sol, legalmente registrada, en coordinación con nuestra aliada Ohio Immigrant Alliance, hemos seguido con gran preocupación el proceso judicial de la mujer Maya Ixil, Margarita Asicona Avilés, de 38 años, originaria de Chajul, Quiché.
El pasado 10 de noviembre, se dio a conocer públicamente que su juicio fue aplazado por falta de intérpretes. Esta situación es alarmante, ya que refleja una omisión institucional que vulnera derechos humanos fundamentales, especialmente los derechos lingüísticos y culturales reconocidos por la Constitución de Guatemala y por convenios internacionales como el Convenio 169 de la OIT.
Consideramos urgente que el Consulado de Guatemala en Florida asuma un papel activo y visible en este caso, asegurando la presencia inmediata de intérpretes calificados y el acompañamiento consular necesario para garantizar un proceso justo y respetuoso de la identidad cultural de la señora Asicona Avilés.
Solicitamos que el consulado coordine con organizaciones que proveen interpretación de manera inmediata para resolver la falta de interpretación que ha impedido avanzar en este proceso judicial.
Nuestra comunidad observa este caso con atención, pues representa no solo la situación de una persona, sino el trato que reciben los pueblos indígenas guatemaltecos en el exterior. Confiamos en que el Consulado actuará con la diligencia, sensibilidad y compromiso que la gravedad del caso exige.
Agradecemos de antemano su pronta respuesta y las acciones concretas que puedan informar en los próximos días. La transparencia y prontitud en la gestión de este caso fortalecerán la confianza de la comunidad migrante en la labor consular.
Con respeto y firmeza,
Atentamente,
Comunidad Sol
Ohio Immigrant Alliance
Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim
Borderlands Resource Initiative
Hispanics in Philanthropy
Trans Queer Pueblo
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Miami Valley Immigration Coalition
Florida International Solidarity Collective
ceiba colectiva – Chicago
Urgent appeal for consular intervention in the case of the Maya Ixil woman
Margarita Asicona Avilés
Dear Consults of Guatemala in Florida, U.S.:
Greetings. From the state of Ohio, the legally registered indigenous organization Comunidad Sol, in coordination with our ally the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, have followed with great preoccupation the judicial process of Margarita Asicona Avilés, a 38 year-old Maya Ixil woman originally from Chajul, Quiché.
On November 10, it became known to the public that her hearing was paused for the lack of interpreters. This situation is alarming, since it reflects an institutional omission that violates fundamental human rights, especially the linguistic and cultural rights recognized by the Guatemalan Constitution and in international conventions like the ILO Convention 169.
We feel it is urgent for the Guatemalan Consulate in Florida to assume an active and visible role in this case, assuring the immediate presence of qualified interpreters and the necessary consular accompaniment to guarantee a just process that respects Ms. Asicona Avilés’ cultural identity.
We are asking for the consulate to immediately coordinate with organizations who provide interpretation to resolve the lack of interpretation, which has impeded the advancement of this judicial process.
Our community is watching this case closely, as it represents not only one person’s situation, but the treatment that Guatemalan indigenous people receive abroad. We are confident that the Consulate will act with the diligence, sensitivity, and commitment that this case demands.
We appreciate your prompt response in advance and any concrete actions you can report in the coming days. Transparency and promptness in the trajectory of this case will strengthen the immigrant community’s confidence in the consulate’s work.
With respect and firmness,
Attentively,
Comunidad Sol
Ohio Immigrant Alliance
Comunidad Maya Pixan Ixim
Borderlands Resource Initiative
Hispanics in Philanthropy
Trans Queer Pueblo
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Justice Team
Miami Valley Immigration Coalition
Florida International Solidarity Collective
ceiba colectiva – chicago