This article was produced in partnership with El Tecolote.

San Francisco drag queen Hilary Rivers has been released from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and is back home in San Francisco after being granted asylum in the United States on September 20.

In an exclusive interview, Rivers spoke to El Tecolote and 48 Hills about the violence she endured in detention and the long legal fight that brought her back to San Francisco.

“A few days before my court date, friends warned me not to appear because people were being picked up,” said Rivers. “But I wanted to do things right. I knew if I didn’t show up, I could get an automatic deportation order. So I went to court with my lawyer.” • Fundraiser: Help Hilary Rivers rebuild her life and cover medical costs

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