Alexa, a trans immigrant, was detained by Border Patrol after a traffic stop by Romulus police.

Federal and county officials deny Alexa was mistreated.

The case illustrates the unique problems LGBTQ+ immigrants face while in custody.

On a Friday in June, Alexa was driving her Ford Focus on Interstate 94 when a Romulus police officer pulled her over for allegedly speeding. Instead of just writing the Ypsilanti woman a ticket, police took her to the police station and contacted Border Patrol, who then took the immigrant from Honduras to the Gibraltar station of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Despite having no criminal record, she was held for eight days in a cell where the lights remained on 24 hours day, making sleep almost impossible, and she was not allowed to shower, her at

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