British Mother Detained by ICE in Washington State Faces Removal Proceedings
A British mother currently detained by immigration authorities in Washington state possesses an extensive criminal history, including five separate convictions for assault. Lauren Jane Morris, aged 38, was apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents outside the Spokane County Courthouse on February 11.
Details of the Detention and Criminal Background
According to her family, who spoke to local television station KING 5, Morris was taken into custody in front of her 16-month-old daughter. The detention occurred after she had attended a probation meeting related to a restraining order that has since been rescinded. Morris was born in Burton Upon Trent, Staffordshire, England, and her family states she grew up in London before relocating to the United States at age 15.
While her family claims she is a lawful permanent resident with a daughter who is an American citizen, ICE officials provided a contrasting account to the Daily Mail. The agency described Morris as an 'illegal alien from the United Kingdom who has five assault convictions,' with one conviction occurring as recently as August 2024.
Public records reveal additional convictions for criminal trespassing and violating a restraining order. On August 6, 2024, a Spokane County judge sentenced Morris to 24 months, likely probation, after she was found guilty of fourth-degree felony assault.
Immigration Status and Legal Proceedings
An ICE spokesperson stated, 'She will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Under President Donald Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem, if you break the law, you will face consequences.' Morris, also referred to as Lauren Mellen using her ex-husband's surname, is being held at the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma and remained in custody as of last Friday. ICE did not respond to inquiries regarding her daughter's current whereabouts.
Documents obtained by the Daily Mail indicate Morris moved to the US in February 2004. She married James Mellen in Montana on October 28, 2007, when she was approximately 19 or 20 years old. The couple applied for a marriage-based visa in February 2008, which was approved in June 2009. A residency application was later approved in February 2012.
Financial and Legal Disputes
The timeline of their divorce remains unclear, but Morris sued Mellen for immigration financial support in 2021. The lawsuit alleged her highest annual income between 2014 and 2020 was $9,883 in 2014, with her lowest reported wage being $1,999 in 2020. Morris claimed that Mellen and co-sponsor Casey Duncan failed to provide legally entitled financial support.
This case was dismissed with prejudice in October 2021, with Morris's attorneys stating the matter was 'amicably resolved through negotiated resolution.' It is uncertain when the separation occurred or if Mellen is the father of her toddler.
Current Circumstances and Media Criticism
Property records show Morris resides in a rented $277,000 house in Spokane, though her monthly rental payments are unknown. Her employment history is not publicly available, and she maintains no social media presence. An immigration hearing is scheduled in Tacoma for Thursday, February 26.
Some anti-ICE critics have defended Morris, including journalists at KING 5 who did not initially disclose her criminal record. The Jason Rantz Show on Seattle radio criticized the outlet during its Friday broadcast, accusing it of framing stories favorably toward detainees.
Rantz told listeners, 'This is what they do. Perhaps, even with the details of five convictions, some would not support removal. Perhaps the apparent fifth conviction is what turned the woman’s life around. But it’s very obviously pertinent information that KING 5 couldn’t be bothered to report.'
