U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter on Thursday called for the immediate release of a Portland woman arrested with her children in Washington state and held in immigration detention for nearly four months.

Dexter, D-Oregon, noted that an immigration judge this week dropped the deportation case against Jackie Merlos but she remains held at the regional detention center in Tacoma.

The U.S. government has 30 days to appeal the judge’s decision. Mimi Lettunich, a family friend who is taking care of Merlos’ four children in Portland , attended Merlos’ hearing and said Merlos is expected to be held during the appeal time.

Dexter, who raised public awareness about the family’s initial detention, continued to push for Merlos’ release.

The ruling on Tuesday was “an acknowledgment by the judge that ther

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