Rita Cote, 23, was transferred to federal custody Tuesday, a week after her arrest in Tavares, Fla., The Orlando Sentinel reported. Cote, a Honduran national, is married to a U.S. citizen and has three children who were born in the United States.

Cote was arrested after her sister, who rented a room in her house, was allegedly attacked by her boyfriend. The sister said that police told her she would have to file a report at the station and then asked everyone present for ID. Cote's name turned up on a database of illegal immigrants and she was arrested.

The American Civil Liberties Union challenged Cote's arrest in federal court in Florida. But lawyers say she was turned over to the immigration service before they got a hearing.

Sgt. John Herrell, a spokesman for the Lake County sheriff's office, said the only mistake police made was failing to notify immigration authorities that they were holding Cote.