RAYMONDVILLE — Outside the El Valle Detention Center, Juan Rodriguez observed as U.S. Representative Monica De La Cruz accompanied Antonio Gámez-Cuéllar, a McAllen teenager who had spent 12 days in detention. Rodriguez was among the demonstrators advocating for Gámez-Cuéllar’s release, having a personal stake in the matter as his fiancée is also detained in the same facility under similar legal circumstances.
The unexpected detainment of the Gámez-Cuéllar family ignited widespread outrage, particularly because they were apprehended while adhering to a government check-in requirement. The brothers, who are members of an award-winning high school mariachi group, had been invited by De La Cruz to perform at the U.S. Capitol last summer.
As Rodriguez watched Gámez-Cuéllar reunite with his family, he couldn’t help but question whether his fiancée, who shares the same situation yet lacks a connection to a prominent figure like De La Cruz, would receive similar assistance. “It’s really unfair that only the chosen few get selected. She’s in the exact same situation,” Rodriguez lamented.
In response to the intense public outcry, De La Cruz, a Republican from Edinburg, intervened to facilitate Gámez-Cuéllar’s release, while a group of congressional Democrats, led by U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro, worked to free his family detained at a different center in Dilley.
“This is about our community coming together not just for their family, but for others in similar situations,” De La Cruz stated outside the detention center earlier this week. Although she refrained from committing to advocate for the release of other detainees, she emphasized that her congressional colleagues should pursue “common sense” enforcement policies.
Like the Gámez-Cuéllar family, Rodriguez’s fiancée, Johanny Lacruz, entered the U.S. to seek asylum. Rodriguez mentioned that she followed the legal process and has no criminal record, yet she was detained in February.
De La Cruz’s involvement in Gámez-Cuéllar’s case highlights the plight of many individuals, including Lacruz, who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite their pending asylum requests and clean criminal histories. Under the mass deportation efforts initiated during the Trump administration, numerous individuals in similar positions have been targeted.
Many migrants believed they were adhering to the proper protocols to remain in the U.S., but increasing numbers are discovering that compliance does not guarantee safety from arrest. “They’re detaining everyone everywhere,” remarked Carlos M. Garcia, an immigration attorney representing Gámez-Cuéllar.
De La Cruz’s Democratic opponents, along with her rival for the South Texas congressional seat, Bobby Pulido, have accused her actions of being politically motivated and her statements insincere. Straddling the line between supporting stringent immigration enforcement and acknowledging the outdated nature of U.S. immigration laws, De La Cruz has backed funding increases for deportation efforts while also proposing legislation aimed at creating new legal pathways for workers. However, these proposals have seen little legislative success.
De La Cruz declined to comment for this article but stated, “Fixing our broken immigration system is a top priority. Since I arrived in Congress, I have put forward policy solutions, including my Bracero Program 2.0 Act, my Fair Wages for Farm Workers, and my Texas Dreamer Work Authorization Act, to bridge the gap and bring stability to the immigration process.”
Rodriguez had planned to propose to Lacruz on Valentine’s Day at the Tower of the Americas in San Antonio. However, their lives took a dramatic turn when, just ten days before the proposal, a routine stop at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint in Falfurrias altered their course.
Rodriguez, a 36-year-old resident of Mission, met 28-year-old Lacruz shortly after her arrival in the U.S. from Venezuela in November 2023. She had entered the country after securing an appointment for her asylum case through the CBP One app, a system introduced by the Biden administration.
Lacruz fled her home country due to threats against her life stemming from her political activism with Voluntad Popular, a progressive political party in Venezuela. The couple traveled together across the country and integrated into Rodriguez’s family, participating in celebrations and holidays.
On February 4, while traveling to San Antonio, they encountered the Border Patrol checkpoint. Located over 70 miles north of the border, this checkpoint is a mandatory stop for travelers from the Rio Grande Valley heading to major cities.
At the checkpoint, Lacruz presented her valid work permit, but was subsequently taken into custody after being asked to exit the vehicle. This occurred just a month before her scheduled court appearance for her asylum case.
Rodriguez expressed frustration over Lacruz’s prolonged detention, especially in light of Gámez-Cuéllar’s apparent preferential treatment. “She never committed any crime,” he insisted. “She had her driver’s license, everything was in order — she had a job, did her taxes, and yet they detained her.”
Rodriguez maintains regular communication with Lacruz, who has reported inadequate food and slow medical assistance in detention. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed her arrest at the Border Patrol checkpoint, stating that she entered the country illegally but would receive full due process in immigration court.
Despite promises from Trump and his allies to target criminals for deportation, the reality has seen a sharp increase in arrests of individuals without criminal records, who now comprise about 74% of those in ICE detention. This includes many who entered the U.S. seeking asylum.
In May, ICE began detaining individuals who attended court hearings or check-in appointments with immigration officials. “Nobody is safe right now,” warned Garcia.
It appears ICE is hastening these appointments, issuing “call-in” letters to require individuals to meet with immigration officials sooner than originally scheduled. This was the case for the Gámez-Cuéllar family, who were detained shortly after complying with such a request.
Garcia noted a significant increase in these call-in letters over the past two months, indicating a troubling trend in ICE’s approach to enforcement.
Since Trump took office, the number of detentions of individuals with no criminal records has surged by 2,450%, according to the American Immigration Council. Among those detained are individuals who were supposed to be protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, designed to shield children brought to the U.S. from deportation.
Individuals like Gámez-Cuéllar and Lacruz, who entered the U.S. via the CBP One app, are categorized as “arriving aliens” and are ineligible to request bond from an immigration judge, leaving them vulnerable to ICE’s discretionary decisions regarding their release.
De La Cruz has called for immigration policies that ensure border security while making communities safer. “These two things do not have to be in contradiction,” she stated following Gámez-Cuéllar’s release.
Despite facing criticism for her support of increased funding for ICE’s immigration enforcement, De La Cruz has acknowledged the concerns of local communities impacted by these policies. Last fall, construction industry representatives highlighted labor shortages caused by immigration enforcement, prompting De La Cruz to express support for legal status for construction workers.
Rodriguez continues to seek assistance from De La Cruz’s office regarding Lacruz’s situation and has also reached out to Pulido for help. Meanwhile, Lacruz is contemplating a voluntary departure to Mexico, a step that could help her avoid a removal order.
While the couple plans to marry, Rodriguez refers to Lacruz as his fiancée, emphasizing the emotional toll of their separation. “She’s scared,” he said. “Hopefully, they’ll send her to Mexico, and then we can continue our process there.”
Rodriguez holds out hope that De La Cruz or another influential figure may advocate for Lacruz’s case. “If she is in the exact same boat that Gámez-Cuéllar was in, but he can get out because of his fame while she cannot, that’s just unfortunate,” he remarked.
