A Dallas resident is urgently seeking the release of his Cuban wife, who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a green card interview, despite her lack of any criminal record aside from immigration-related issues.
Niury Guerra, a mother and the spouse of a U.S. citizen, was apprehended by ICE during a scheduled check-in, even though she has an ongoing petition for her green card. Officials point to a past removal in 2018 and a subsequent illegal re-entry in 2022 as the reasons for her detention, but her family asserts that she has not committed any other crimes. As of now, Guerra’s deportation status remains unclear while she is being held approximately 200 miles from her family in North Texas.
Background on the Couple
Jason Quiroga, who met Guerra in 2023, described their love story, which began while she was visiting family in Dallas. Originally from Cuba and living in Miami, Guerra expressed a desire for a simple life, prompting her move to Dallas to be with Quiroga. “She said, ‘I want to be with you and I want to start a life with you,’” recalled Quiroga.
The couple married in 2024 and welcomed their daughter, Niah, who is now 15 months old. Quiroga has filed a petition for Guerra’s green card, emphasizing their commitment as a family. “I’m a U.S. citizen, we’re married, and she’s a caregiver for my father, who’s a veteran,” he stated.
Detention Circumstances
Earlier this month, Guerra was arrested by ICE during her scheduled check-in in Dallas, despite Quiroga’s assurances that they had attended all necessary hearings. An ICE spokesperson reported that Guerra was previously removed from the U.S. after attempting to enter using a fraudulent Peruvian passport in 2018 and later illegally re-entering the country in August 2022, which is classified as a felony. However, there are no records indicating that Guerra has committed any crimes since her illegal re-entry.
“Why is it happening? She’s not a criminal, not by any means,” Quiroga expressed, voicing his confusion and distress. “I don’t know what to do.”
A Plea for Compassion
Currently, Quiroga can only share his family’s situation in hopes of garnering support. “We need an act of God, and we have a lot of faith and I still have some hope, but it sure is hard to be that protector when, ultimately, I have no idea where this story’s going to end,” he added, reflecting on his feelings of helplessness.
Guerra’s Current Status
Guerra remains detained at a facility located about 200 miles west of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, leaving her family in a state of uncertainty regarding her future.
