United States: trafficking and rape victim freed after serving 22 years

Off Our Backs, Jul/Aug 2004 by Christian, Sena, Stachowski, Roxanne, Ferden, Sara, Walter, Shoshana

Mar�a Su�rez, a mexican woman who served 22 years in prison for aiding the murderer of a man who bought and raped her in 1976, was released from prison and allowed to remain in the United States. Su�rez was sold for $200 to Anselmo Covarrubias when she was 16 years old.

When she witnessed her neighbor beating Covarrubias to death, she helped hide the weapon and as a result she was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Her release was prompted by pressure by various human rights groups and members of Congress. Su�rez will be allowed to remain in the United States under a T-visa, created in 2000 for the purpose of protecting trafficked victims.

-info from www.feminist.org