A routine workday turned into a legal battle for a Texas landscaper after a confrontation with a postal worker in Harris County. The incident, partially captured on video, has sparked controversy as local authorities charged the landscaper—who is an undocumented immigrant—with assault without first taking her statement, per the her daughter. She is now being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Margarita Avila was tending to landscaping duties near a community mailbox when an altercation broke out between her and a postal worker this week. According to a press release from the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office, the postal worker asked Avila to move twice. She then allegedly tapped on her shoulder, "after which time [Avila] attacked the postal worker."
Avila's family is sharing a different version of the story, claiming the landscaper was "really the victim." According to Avila's daughter, her mother was wearing protective gear and earplugs when she was approached by the postal worker, making it difficult for her to hear or respond quickly to the situation.
"She said the lady came from behind and knocked the glasses out of her face," Lisbet Avila told FOX News.
"My mom was simply doing her job when this postal worker initiated the confrontation—yet my mom was the one arrested! The police never took her statement, and now she's being held by ICE while the real aggressor walks free," the daughter, Lisbet, further explained via social media.
Lisbet went on to share two videos of the tense exchange between her mother and the postal worker. One of the videos shows the 50-year-old landscaper seemingly guarding herself with her weed eater while being repeatedly pushed by the postal worker.
A separate video shows the postal worker visibly agitated, arguing with Avila and her companion. In the footage, the postal worker claims she was injured by the weed eater. However, Avila's companion disputes this, stating that the worker initially denied any contact with the tool.
"Get somebody out here because I'm going to beat some motherf*****g ass right now," the postal worker said while being recorded. Meanwhile, Margarita is shown standing still, holding onto her weed eater, encouraging the postal worker to report the incident.
The events that followed led to Avila's detention by county officials and ICE.
"My mom... was wrongfully arrested after defending herself from an unprovoked attack. Now, she's fighting for her freedom, and we are facing overwhelming legal costs to prove her innocence," her daughter said via a GoFundMe campaign.
The Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office publicly announced Avila's arrest on Facebook, solidifying her charge of assault.
"Margarita Avila was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail, charged with Assault-Bodily Injury. Her bond was set at $100.00 out of County Court 3," Constable Mark Herman wrote.
CONSTABLES ARREST LAWN WORKER FOR ASSAULT AFTER SHE ASSAULTED A POSTAL WORKER WITH A WEED EATER!
— Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 (@Pct4Constable) March 13, 2025
Follow us at https://t.co/EzyDHKl8Js and download our new mobile app “C4 NOW” to receive live feeds on crime, arrests, safety tips, traffic accidents and road conditions in your area pic.twitter.com/lQwdfYpnzX
Avila's arrest has added another layer of complexity to her legal battle. Facing both criminal charges and immigration concerns, her family has enlisted two attorneys—one for the assault case and another to navigate her immigration status. Their primary goal: to get the charges dropped and secure her release from ICE custody.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that postal inspectors interviewed the worker involved. However, USPS has made it clear they are not conducting their own investigation and have deferred all criminal inquiries to Precinct 4 authorities.
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