On a February afternoon, after expressing breast milk, Stephanie Villarreal sent her husband, Juan Chavez Velasco, to the hospital to deliver the milk to the neonatal intensive care unit for their newborn daughter, who had arrived 10 weeks early and was only 12 days old.
As Chavez, 35, drove from their home in Weslaco, a convoy of black and white SUVs with flashing police lights surrounded his vehicle. Initially thinking they were pursuing someone else, he pulled over to the curb. Moments later, four agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) emerged, and one approached his car, opening the door.
After verifying his identity, the agent stated, “Yeah, that’s our target.”
Chavez, who has held Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status since its inception, explained to the agents that he was a father of three, including a hospitalized infant he had yet to hold. He recalled an agent responding dismissively, “That doesn’t matter.”
Under the Trump administration, the targeting of DACA recipients for deportation intensified, with a notable increase in arrests. Reports indicate that from January to November 2025, at least 261 DACA recipients were apprehended, with 75 of those cases occurring in Texas. Estimates suggest that between 86 and 174 recipients were deported, highlighting the administration’s stance against the program.
During his first term, President Trump attempted to dismantle DACA entirely, a move that was ultimately blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, back in office, his administration has claimed that DACA does not provide immunity from deportation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has publicly stated, “DACA does NOT confer any form of legal status in this country,” emphasizing that recipients may be subject to deportation for various reasons, including any criminal activity.
DHS did not respond to inquiries regarding Chavez’s specific situation.
For over ten years, many DACA recipients felt secure from deportation. This program was intended as a temporary measure for young immigrants without criminal records until a long-term solution could be established for the estimated 11 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. Advocates argue that the current administration is neglecting promises made to DACA recipients.
“Federal courts have ruled that DACA’s protections are valid and should shield recipients from immigration enforcement — yet that is not what is occurring,” stated Gaby Pacheco, president and CEO of TheDream.US, an immigrant rights organization. “These unlawful arrests must be halted immediately.”
A DACA recipient risks losing their status if arrested or convicted of a serious crime. Currently, there are over 505,000 DACA recipients in the U.S., with more than 84,000 residing in Texas, according to federal data.
Democratic leaders express alarm over the Trump administration’s actions targeting DACA recipients, many of whom entered the country as children and have clean records. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, stated, “DACA recipients trusted the federal government when they came forward, passing background checks and adhering to every requirement set by DHS. Now, under the Trump administration, ICE is focusing on the very individuals who complied with the law. That is appalling.”
Chavez’s family fled Colombia to Miami in 1999, following the kidnapping of his grandfather by guerillas amid rampant violence between guerrilla and paramilitary forces. The family initially traveled on tourist visas and subsequently sought asylum.
Chavez, who was eight years old at the time, recalled being unaware of their relocation plans. In 2001, they settled in McAllen, where his mother found work as a physical therapist while their asylum case was pending, and his father took on various jobs before becoming a custodian.
Three years later, an immigration judge denied their asylum request, ordering the family’s deportation. However, they opted to remain in the U.S., prioritizing their children’s safety over returning to a violent Colombia.
Over the years, Chavez’s older sister married a U.S. citizen, which allowed her to sponsor their parents for permanent residency. However, Chavez lacked a viable pathway to legal status. While his sister could have sponsored him, sibling sponsorships can take up to 15 years.
In 2012, the Obama administration’s DACA program provided Chavez with a chance to pursue his career aspirations after college. He graduated in 2013 with dual degrees in biology and clinical laboratory science from the University of Texas–Pan American.
After completing his studies, Chavez worked in hospital laboratories in the Valley. In November 2023, he met Villarreal while ordering food at her family’s food truck. They began dating that day and married in February 2025, shortly after Trump returned to office.
Villarreal had a son from a previous relationship, and they welcomed their first daughter three months later. The couple purchased a home in Weslaco shortly after their marriage.
Following their wedding, they consulted an attorney about Chavez’s potential sponsorship for permanent residency. Villarreal recounted that the lawyer advised against it due to Chavez’s 2004 deportation order, expressing concern that opening a new immigration case could lead to his arrest.
Despite Trump’s campaign promise to deport “the worst of the worst,” data shows that many deportation arrests involve individuals without criminal records.
ICE has also been known to apprehend immigrants at immigration courts and during routine appointments at ICE offices, further complicating the lives of those seeking legal status.
Consequently, the couple was advised to wait to apply for his green card until after Trump’s presidency.
Living under DACA has imposed numerous limitations on their lives, as Villarreal noted, “Of course he can pay taxes, but he doesn’t enjoy the benefits that U.S. citizens often take for granted, like the ability to vote or travel abroad.”
Chavez and Villarreal welcomed their second daughter on February 6, but shortly thereafter, Chavez was arrested and taken to an immigration detention facility in Laredo.
“I’m terrified at the thought of being deported and not being able to see her,” Chavez expressed. “It feels like there’s a part of me that’s missing because it was taken away.”
After his work permit expired on March 10, Chavez lost his job. He had applied for a renewal in November, but it remains pending.
Villarreal has faced challenges managing their household alone. Her 4-year-old son, who views Chavez as his father, has struggled with the abrupt absence. She initially told him that Chavez was at work, but as time passed, she had to explain the reality of his detention.
“Can you pretend to be dad?” her son asked her during a recent conversation.
“Why, son?” she replied.
“Because dad would always play with me,” came his response.
Villarreal, currently on leave from work, has made efforts to visit Chavez weekly with their children. The typically three-hour journey from the Rio Grande Valley to Laredo often takes longer as she must frequently stop to care for their two youngest daughters. Their newborn was released from the hospital in March.
“Sometimes I wish there were three of me—one for each child—to help with the kids,” she lamented.
During family visits, they sit across a partition from Chavez, communicating through a phone. On one occasion, their 10-month-old daughter reached out, placing her hand on the glass and smiling at her father.
“I can tell she misses me,” Chavez remarked.
Chavez’s attorney is actively contesting his detention. In March, U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña mandated ICE not to deport him while his case remains unresolved.
Chavez has been grappling with kidney stones, which he attributes to poor hydration in detention due to the metallic taste of the facility’s water. His family has been sending him money to buy bottled water, which he can purchase at a rate of 20 bottles weekly for $1.11 each.
The food is bland, and he finds the sleeping conditions uncomfortable on a thin pad over a metal frame. Sharing a cell with ten others, they rely on a communal shower and toilet. Chavez spends his time reading the Bible and participating in group worship sessions.
“The conditions here are designed to create immense stress, pushing individuals to agree to deportation,” Chavez said. “But I will continue to fight because I deserve to be here; I see myself as an American.”
