Domingo Salas Mota, a man originally from the Dominican Republic, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after a traffic stop in Bradenton, Florida. His situation is especially delicate because he had been in the country for over a decade and was in the process of obtaining permanent residency.

His wife, a US citizen, reported that the arrest occurred at a critical time for the family. They are raising two young children born in the United States, who, she said, have suffered intensely from their father's absence.

The Arrest of Domingo Salas Mota

According to Newsweek, the operation occurred on June 26, when ICE officers detained Salas Mota, 34, after identifying him during a traffic stop. Although he had entered the country legally in 2013 and had submitted his application for permanent residency in October 2024, he remains in custody in Florida detention centers.

His defense argues that the immigration process should protect him while his petition is pending. He even had a Social Security number and a work permit issued by immigration authorities. However, the detention abruptly interrupts Salas Mota's daily life, just as she was awaiting an official response regarding her status.

ICE's Position on Her Case

ICE has not offered additional public details about the detention, but a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed to Newsweek that the arrest was legal and falls within the agency's standard procedures.

Although specific immigration charges were not mentioned, Salas Mota's record includes a previous arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol in 2023 and a recent incident for driving with a suspended license.

For authorities, this history justifies custody while her immigration process is carried out. However, the family insists that she complied with the corresponding sanctions and that none of this should jeopardize a residency process that had already advanced significantly.

Domingo's Family Life in the United States

Salas Mota has lived in the country for more than 13 years, during which time he started a family with his wife, Amanda Dorsett. The two have lived together since 2019 and are the parents of two American-born children, ages 6 and 4. According to Dorsett, the children had never been separated from their father and now face a grief that translates into constant crying and a strong sense of loss.

In addition to the emotional impact, the detention has also created financial hardships for the household. Dorsett noted that her husband's absence has left the family vulnerable, as he was a fundamental support with finances and caring for the children.

Domingo Salas Mota has already appeared at two immigration hearings and has another scheduled for October. Meanwhile, he has been transferred between several detention centers, currently in Glades County, where his wife reports poor conditions.