Lynn rallies for mother from Guatemala facing impending deportation

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]Dozens of demonstrators rallied at Red Rock Park in Lynn tonight to protest the impending deportation of a mother from Guatemala. Mariola Perez has the support of elected officials and the local educators with whom she works.

[00:00:14]Good evening everyone, Ken MacLeod with you. Perez fled Guatemala 16 years ago, is very active in Lynn's immigrant community and has a son with complex medical needs. WBZ's Logan Hall was in Lynn tonight, he joins us live now here in the studio. Yeah, Ken, good evening.

[00:00:30]Mariola Perez's impact on the community in Lynn could be felt by the sheer number of people who showed up to support her. She's been seeking asylum for over a decade now and was just told that when she checks in with her immigration officer tomorrow, she will be detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement agents.

[00:00:47]Mariola is a beloved member of our community.

[00:00:50]Um, she's a mom, you can see her here with her son, and we are not going to stand by and watch her be ripped away needlessly and cruelly.

[00:00:57]>> Community leaders and residents gathered in support of Mariola Perez, who's facing ICE detention on Monday. Perez fled the Guatemalan genocide against indigenous people and has been in the US for 16 years. She has a 15-year-old son who is a US citizen with severe medical needs. We've got her back. Our community is standing together to say no to this deportation, yes to keeping our community together. Perez is a paraeducator at a school in Lynn. Fellow members of her teachers union showed up in support of her cause.

[00:01:26]>> So, we're here to show not just support to her, but to all of our immigrant brothers and sisters and siblings that are going through this difficult time.

[00:01:32]In addition to her work in education, Perez also works as an interpreter, bridging the language gap in her community and helping to create access for her neighbors.

[00:01:40]>> And for us, it's very important because English is not my first language, right?

[00:01:45]And she comes and [music] support us to have a important meetings, important information to to be translated in to the community.

[00:01:54]We've reached out to ICE about Perez's case, but they have not responded to our multiple requests for comment. Live in studio tonight, I'm Logan Hall, WBZ News.