What began as a common traffic violation ended up becoming an immigration ordeal for Nicolas, an Argentine citizen living in Orlando, Florida. After being arrested for driving without a license, he was handed over to immigration authorities and spent 82 days in ICE custody, being transferred between detention centers in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, according to El Observador USA.

Nicolas, 38, was arrested on March 22 and finally deported on June 12. During that time, he experienced extreme conditions in the centers where he was held, sleeping on the floor, handcuffed for hours, and without knowing when he would be released or deported.

His case has drawn attention due to the length of his detention and the disproportionate nature of the offense committed, driving without a license, and the resulting immigration process.

A prolonged detention that exposes flaws in the immigration system

As Nicolás told El Observador USA, he arrived in the United States as a tourist and, after several previous visits, decided to stay indefinitely in 2023. With a valid visa but no work permit, he began earning a living doing general repairs, from construction to exterior maintenance.

His stay took an unexpected turn in March, when he was arrested for driving without a valid license. What seemed like a minor infraction led to a lengthy immigration detention that lasted more than two months. After his initial arrest in Orlando, he was transferred to various detention centers, where he faced extreme conditions: overcrowding, freezing temperatures, poor hygiene, and no clarity about his legal status. Although bail was initially set for him, the immigration system blocked his release with a detainer. His time in facilities in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana was marked by constant transfers, days without access to showers, and long hours in handcuffs. Nicolás's final departure from the United States during this process, Nicolas couldn't afford a lawyer and decided to face the hearing alone. Despite requesting voluntary departure, which would avoid a formal deportation record, his request was rejected on the grounds that he posed a public risk.

Ultimately, he accepted the deportation, seeing no viable path to legal residence, recognizing that the system makes no distinction between undocumented workers and criminals with criminal records.

Back in Argentina, he denounced the inhumane conditions of his detention and shared his experience with other migrants detained for minor offenses. He said he met hundreds of people in similar situations, many of whom had lived in the country for years, had children who were citizens, and had no criminal record.

His story shows how the tightening of immigration policies in the U.S. is impacting not only those who cross the border, but also those seeking opportunities by working informally.