Catholic Diocese–Backed Legal Team Accuses El Paso Judge of Cruelty Toward Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

El Paso Family Court Judge Marlene Gonzalez is facing a formal effort to remove her from cases involving unaccompanied immigrant children, following allegations of what attorneys describe as a “pattern and practice of cruelty” toward some of the most vulnerable individuals appearing in her courtroom.

The motion to recuse, filed by attorneys funded through Estrella del Paso, a ministry of the Catholic Diocese of El Paso, asks that Judge Gonzalez be disqualified from all pending and future cases involving unaccompanied noncitizen minors.

The document can be found at this link. 

“Since she took office on January 1, 2021, Judge Marlene Gonzalez has engaged in a pattern and practice of cruelty towards unaccompanied noncitizen children who appear before her court,” the filing states, adding that the conduct “has escalated over the years.”

According to the motion, Judge Gonzalez has repeatedly shamed minors in court, including accusing children of having “abandoned” their parents - an allegation advocates say ignores the realities faced by many unaccompanied minors who arrive in the United States.

The filing outlines that many of these children are fleeing violence, poverty, or political instability and are often preyed upon during their migration. Attorneys cite cases involving minors who were forced to work, exploited financially, or subjected to physical and sexual abuse, including instances of forced prostitution.

The motion argues that such children frequently arrive with significant trauma, having endured separation from family members, prolonged displacement, and dangerous journeys north. Attorneys note that cultural background, trauma responses, and fear of authority figures can heavily influence how these children interact with the court system - making judicial sensitivity especially critical.

In its conclusion, the motion requests that Judge Gonzalez voluntarily recuse herself from all cases involving unaccompanied noncitizen children. Alternatively, the attorneys ask that the matter be referred to the Presiding Judge of the Sixth Administrative Judicial Region for a hearing and determination.

Estrella del Paso has provided legal services to immigrants in El Paso since 1986 and operates as a ministry of the Diocese of El Paso. Observers note that the recusal effort represents an unusually strong step by the Diocese’s legal arm, signaling the seriousness of the concerns raised.

To date, there has been no public response from Judge Gonzalez regarding the allegations outlined in the motion.