By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Pima County Attorney Laura Conover has issued a release about the Tucson woman, a DACA recipient, who was detained by ICE earlier this year.
Read more Sonora Behavioral patient suffered spine fractures, liver laceration, lost teeth before death
On Tuesday, June 16, Conover said she is working to offer a plea deal to Jessica Marlene Corrales-Duarte, who is facing deportation under the Laken Riley Act.
“The case at issue involves the theft of over $5,000 of a high volume of brand-name perfumes and makeup over several days, caught on camera, coupled with a taped confession,” Conover said. “Although that amount is higher than most of our organized retail theft cases, generally speaking, a person with no criminal history would and should be afforded an opportunity to enter a diversion program whereby they work steadily to repay what is owed and learn how to never end up involved in the criminal justice system again.”
According to court documents, Corrales-Duarte went into an Ulta Beauty in Tucson at least three times in August 2025 and stole nearly $5,500 worth of products. Theft of that level is usually a felony in the state of Arizona, not a misdemeanor.
13 News obtained Corrales-Duarte’s interim complaint, and she is facing three counts of shoplifting and theft under $25,000. She was caught on video removing security stickers from merchandise and putting the product into her purse before walking out without paying.
While the incident happened in August, Corrales-Duarte was indicted by a Pima County grand jury in September.
ICE said Corrales-Duarte was arrested on Jan. 15, 2026, days after her DACA status was terminated following her indictment.
The Laken Riley Act, signed into law in January 2025, requires federal agents to detain people in the country illegally who have been arrested for certain crimes, including burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting. The Act does not distinguish between arrests and convictions.
“Here, unfortunately, ICE has taken custody of the individual under the framework set up in the Laken Riley Act,” Conover said. “Just as I predicted when I strenuously campaigned against this Act, the attempt to deport the individual under an allegation alone (not a conviction) deprives the individual of due process and deprives the State of its work of making victims whole again. I will continue to advocate for the repeal of the Laken Riley Act where I can.”
Conover said that a plea deal for Corrales-Duarte could “mitigate harsh immigration consequences, secure accountability, and make whole the victim. The choice to accept the offer is between her and her lawyers.”
On Friday, June 12, Rep. Adelita S. Grijalva called on federal authorities to release Corrales-Duarte and halt deportation proceedings.
She claimed Corrales-Duarte was facing a misdemeanor charge for a minor offense.
“ICE is going after yet another DACA recipient in our community,” Grijalva said in a release at the time. “Her name is Jessica Corrales-Duarte and she is a constituent of mine. Jessica is a married 29-year-old mother of two young girls. She was born in Mexico and brought to the United States when she was just two years old.”
Read more Pima County woman arrested on kidnapping, assault charges after victim dies
Grijalva said that Corrales-Duarte’s attorney reported she has no prior criminal record, but 13 News has been unable to verify that claim.
“Like anyone else in this country, she is entitled to due process and to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty,” Grijalva said. “However, there is a real possibility that she will be deported without ever getting her day in court. That is both cruel and fundamentally unjust. This is a direct consequence of the Laken Riley Act, where a mere accusation — not a conviction — of a minor offense is enough to trigger deportation.”
In a statement to 13 News, ICE disputed several parts of Grijalva’s accusations.
First, ICE said Corrales-Duarte was arrested after her DACA status was terminated.
ICE said it sent Corrales-Duarte official notice of intent to terminate her status on Nov. 7, 2025, and that she had no legal right to be in the United States. ICE also said the charge against her was a felony.
“Corrales-Duarte does not possess any immigration documents that allow her to enter, reside or remain in the United States legally,” ICE said. “The Tucson Police Department arrested Corrales-Duarte on felony charges for shoplifting and theft. Claims by her attorney that ICE is not releasing her for her court appearance are false; ICE will release Corrales-Duarte under writ to Pima County so she can appear for her trial.”
13 News has confirmed Corrales-Duarte has been in ICE custody in Eloy since her arrest in January.
In May 2026, Grijalva called for the release of Karla Toledo after she was arrested at her Tucson home.
Homeland Security claimed that Toledo assaulted a federal agent who was trying to detain another person and that Toledo was in the country illegally. Arizona lawmakers and local activists claimed Toledo was innocent, that her DACA status was up to date, and that she had no criminal history.
In early June, the charges against Toledo were dismissed, and she was released.
Immigration attorney Mo Goldman told 13 News that the dismissal means Toledo is protected from deportation under DACA, but that her fight is far from over. The motion to dismiss was filed without prejudice, which means the government could refile it later. Also, Toledo’s DACA status is set to expire in July.
Are you streaming 13 News?
Watch a free live stream of Tucson Now and 13 News at TucsonNow.Live.
Be sure to download the free Tucson Now app, which you can find on Apple and Google.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can use your mobile device to scan the QR code below.
Read more Tucson intersections to receive flashing yellow arrow signals
You can submit your breaking news or weather images here.