NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A woman who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 50 years and had no criminal record was detained outside of her Lakeview, La., home by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last month, much to the shock of her family and friends.

After nearly three weeks in custody, her family confirmed she has been released, and a Republican lawmaker may be to thank.

In June, Mandonna Kashanian's daughter Kaitlyn Milne told Nexstar's WGNO that her mother had been taken away by ICE agents while gardening outside her home. Sarah Gerig and her husband watched it all happen in real-time, claiming ICE agents gave no explanation.

“When … we saw her getting taken, I mean, it was one of our worst fears, but we were shocked,” Gerig said. “I mean, it was in front of her house, and she, she was in her yard. My husband ran out to try to talk to her.”

Kashanian's daughter, Kaitlynn Milne, says she was able to track her mother’s phone to find out where she was: a jail in Hancock County, Miss., and then to detention centers in Jena and Basile.

© The Hill