Shelby Park Trespass Case: What It Means for Immigrants

You crossed into Shelby Park from the riverbank, were arrested, and now a misdemeanor charge sits on your record. That is exactly what happened to Adriana Ramos Trujillo. On January 19, 2024, she was arrested at Shelby Park in Maverick County, Texas — an area that had been restricted two days earlier by a Texas Department of Public Safety declaration. The declaration barred anyone from entering the park through riverbanks or other unauthorized points. Trujillo was charged with criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor, though the charge carried enhanced Class A misdemeanor penalties because the area was under a gubernatorial disaster declaration.

What the Court Decided

The case dragged on for about twelve months before Trujillo entered a plea. During that time, her attorneys fought for faster access to evidence — including reports from a Texas Military Department soldier who, they argued, had actually given Trujillo permission to enter the park. The trial court granted some discovery requests but delayed others, and the case was reset multiple times. Trujillo filed a motion for a speedy trial in January 2025, arguing the delays hurt her ability to defend herself. The trial court denied that motion. She then accepted a plea deal — pleading nolo contendere (no contest) — and was sentenced to four days in the Maverick County Jail, with credit for time already served and no fine. In October 2026, the Fourth Court of Appeals in San Antonio affirmed the trial court's judgment, finding the twelve-month delay did not rise to a Sixth Amendment speedy-trial violation.

The court applied the four-part Barker v. Wingo test used in all speedy-trial claims: the length of the delay, the reason for it, whether the defendant asserted her right, and whether she was actually harmed. The appeals court found the delay barely crossed the threshold that triggers a full speedy-trial analysis — and that the reasons for the delay were largely neutral, not a deliberate attempt by the state to harm the defense. That distinction matters: a deliberate delay by prosecutors weighs heavily against the government, but court scheduling problems and discovery disputes weigh less.

Why This Matters If You Are an Immigrant

A criminal conviction — even a misdemeanor — can affect your immigration case. A nolo contendere plea is treated the same as a guilty plea for immigration purposes. If you are applying for a green card, seeking asylum, or trying to renew a work permit (EAD), a criminal record can trigger additional scrutiny or, in some cases, a bar to relief. The Shelby Park arrests happened in a politically charged border enforcement context, and many of those arrested were asylum seekers. If you or someone you know was arrested at Shelby Park or a similar restricted border area, the criminal case and the immigration case are two separate proceedings — but they affect each other.

What to Do

• If you have a pending criminal charge related to a border area or trespass, do not accept a plea deal without first speaking to both a criminal defense attorney and an immigration attorney — a plea that seems minor in criminal court can have serious immigration consequences.
• If you already entered a plea and are worried about your immigration case, ask an immigration lawyer to review whether the conviction affects your eligibility for a green card, asylum, or other relief.
• If you believe your right to a speedy trial was violated — meaning your case dragged on for eight months or more with no good reason — tell your attorney immediately. That argument must be raised before you enter a plea to preserve it on appeal.
• Keep copies of all court documents, arrest records, and any communications with law enforcement. These will be needed for any future immigration application or hearing.

A full breakdown of this topic — in our guide “Immigration Court Rulings”.