Immigrant is detained by ICE in a traffic stop despite having a work permit
Mario Reyes had a Green Card application pending before his arrest
The arrest of Mario Reyes Rodas, an immigrant residing in Mississippi, has sparked outrage after it was revealed that he has a valid work permit in the United States. The arrest occurred on August 27 during a traffic stop in Rankin County, according to Mississippi Today.
The case is notable because Reyes Rodas has no criminal record and presented both his driver's license and his employment authorization card, documents that prove his temporary legal stay in the country.
An arrest that took the immigrant community by surprise
According to information reported by Mississippi Today, Reyes Rodas was driving his vehicle when he was stopped by local agents. Faced with this, Mario did not hesitate to stop and then followed the instructions of the officer in charge, who ignored his work permit and permanent residency paperwork and then detained him.
After the arrest, he was handed over to immigration personnel. His attorney said that the arrest occurred without any warrant being shown to him at the time, which has raised questions about the legality of the procedure.
According to witnesses, the migrant was handcuffed and immediately transferred despite reiterating that his immigration status was being processed. This incident has raised concerns in the area's immigrant community, as they believe that this type of practices discourages those seeking to legally regularize their status.
The official version and ICE's arguments
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has not issued a specific statement on the Reyes Rodas case. However, Rodas' attorney, Jeremy Litton, revealed that his client was charged with civil violation for entering the country without authorization.
In addition to the above, and according to regulations, employment authorizations do not automatically eliminate previous deportation orders or pending proceedings, something that could explain the agents' actions. Even so, His lawyer insists that the detention lacked solid grounds and is requesting a judicial review.
Who is Mario Reyes Rodas and what was he seeking in the US?
Mario Reyes Rodas is originally from Honduras and arrived in the United States several years ago. Since then, he has continued to work steadily and without legal incidents. His work authorization was granted while his application for adjustment of status to access permanent residence is being processed.
His detention, despite this context, has put the stability of his life and that of his family at risk, as he is the father of two children who depends on his presence and financial support.
Currently, his legal team is seeking to stop a possible immediate deportation and obtain his release on bail. He is currently being held at River Correctional Center, an ICE facility in Ferriday, Louisiana.
“I was deported after 11 years in the US and now I'm trying to rebuild my life in Honduras, the country where I was born but which I don't know.”
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