Melida Ruiz, a lawful permanent resident, pictured with her daughter, Mercedez Ruiz, and her grandson, Christopher Gonzalez.

Melida Ruiz, a lawful permanent resident, pictured with her daughter, Mercedez Ruiz, and her grandson, Christopher Gonzalez. In 2011, Melida was held in immigration detention for seven months while she fought deportation based on a 2002 misdemeanor drug conviction, her sole conviction in more than 30 years in the United States.

© 2013 Platon for Human Rights Watch