WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, after a traffic stop in Leeds, Alabama, immigration enforcement detained Giovanna Hernandez Martinez, a youth advocate, small business owner, and beloved community member. Giovanna’s case is just one example of the Trump administration’s cruel and indiscriminate deportation machine. Giovanna remains in ICE custody and is at risk of being transferred to another facility far from her community and loved ones. 

The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) issued the following response: 

Said Nicole Melaku, NPNA executive director, “Giovanna’s arrest and detention exposes the brutal reality of this administration’s immigration policies—the continued racial profiling and targeting of individuals going about their lives, including community advocates who uplift others. This young leader has positively contributed to her academic community, her family, and the state of Alabama. We call for her immediate release.”

As a close partner to one of NPNA’s member organizations, the Hispanic and Immigrant Center of Alabama (¡HICA!), Giovanna leads Juntos Coaching and Consulting to empower youth across Alabama. She has consistently demonstrated integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to expanding educational opportunities for young people. Her leadership has inspired countless students to pursue their goals and has strengthened communities across the state. NPNA, ¡HICA!, and UnidosUS invite anyone to show solidarity by donating to Giovanna’s family and spreading the word to call for her release.

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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a multi-ethnic, multiracial coalition of 88 of the nation’s largest immigrant and refugee rights organizations with reach across over 42 states. Together with our members, we advance immigrant and refugee equity and inclusion, build and expand immigration legal services and integration programming capacity, and drive campaigns that strengthen democracy through increased civic participation. See our website for more information at partnershipfornewamericans.org.