EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The daughter of a woman taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this week says her mother is not the person many have portrayed her to be and believes she was unknowingly caught up in the drug-smuggling case from 2020 that led to her arrest and now threatens her legal permanent resident status.Martha Antonia Sias Ochoa was detained and arrested on Wednesday, July 12 during what the Department of Homeland Security described as a targeted immigration enforcement operation. DHS said Sias was arrested because of a 2022 Texas conviction for possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. DHS identifies woman arrested by ICE as a drug trafficker Video of the arrest circulated widely on social media, prompting questions about why federal agents targeted Sias.In an interview with KTSM, Sias’ daughter said her mother was on her way to a chemotherapy appointment when she noticed a pickup truck following her vehicle. Her younger brother, who was driving, continued through nearby streets after Sias became suspicious they were being followed.“After they realized that they were in fact getting, chased or followed, she decided to stop,” Marilyn Morales said. “She has super anxiety. She asked for help to the cashiers at the store.”According to Morales, went inside the Allsup’s Convenience Store seeking help from employees before two ICE agents approached her and informed her she needed to go with them.Sias is currently being held at the El Paso Processing Center on Montana Avenue. Her daughter said that the family has not been able to speak with her since the arrest.“My brother tried to get information, but they told him they couldn’t provide any,” she said. “It’s just a matter of waiting.”Sias’ arrest stems from a 2022 incident at the Paso Del Norte Port of Entry. According to an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered 18 taped bundles containing about 20.6 pounds of methamphetamine concealed inside the rear door panels of a Ford Expedition driven by Sias. Her husband was riding in the passenger seat.2022 Booking Photo of Martha Antonia Sias OchoaInvestigators alleged the couple knowingly possessed the drugs with the intent to distribute them, leading to state charges of possession of more than 400 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Records showed that Sias pleaded guilty to the charge in 2025. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation. Records disclosed she was convicted on a lesser charge.Sias’ daughter said she is aware of the conviction but does not believe her mother knowingly participated in drug trafficking.“From, from what I know or remember is that she was going through Facebook and somebody offered her a job or some sort of job where she can make like $500, for just a quick trip,” she said. “She never told us anything. She just said that she was going to go to Juarez.”Morales described her mother as trusting and vulnerable to scams. She mentioned that Sias, at time, spent thousands of dollars on what she believed was an alternative cancer treatment promoted online.“She believes anything social media tells her,” she said. “That just shows the type of person my mom is.”While she said her mother accepted responsibility in court and complied with all legal requirements stemming from the criminal case, Morales questioned why immigration authorities reopened the issue years later.“She went to her court dates. She did everything in a legal manner for the sole purpose of keeping her residency and being with her children and grandchildren,” she said. “I just don’t think it’s fair that they’re bringing something that has already been closed just for her to be removed.”(FitFam)The daughter said Sias has been a lawful permanent resident since marrying her first husband decades ago and has lived in the United States for years.Morales pushed back against online comments characterizing her mother as a drug trafficker.“She’s not a drug dealer,” she said. “Everyone’s calling her ‘Walter White.’ Believe me, she’s not a drug dealer. She’s like any normal Mexican mom. She always has her doors open for people and welcomes everyone into her home.”Morales added that aside from the 2022 criminal case, her mother has no other significant criminal history that she is aware of.ICE has not publicly released additional details about Sias’ immigration proceedings. Sias remains in federal custody while her immigration case moves forward.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.