Family of Mexican man detained by ICE in Texas demands transparency

Austin (US), May 14 (EFE).- The family of Gerardo Reyes, a Mexican migrant who was transferred to an ICE detention center in Texas after being arrested during a traffic stop while driving his vehicle, demanded transparency and harsher penalties for the agent involved in the case on Thursday.

CAMERA: ALEJANDRA ARREDONDO.

STATEMENTS BY SANJUANA ESCALANTE, WIFE OF GERARDO REYES, A MEXICAN IMMIGRANT DETAINED BY ICE IN TEXAS.

TRANSLATION:

1. “I felt like they spat in my face. I felt offended because they didn't take responsibility for what they did; they weren't able to say, ‘Hey, I did this bad thing, I have to make it right.’ And that wasn't a mistake—it was a slap in the face, like they were laughing at what was happening, and that's not right.”

2. "Mano Amiga has been amazing; they held a sale, a Sip & Paint fundraiser—that’s for the bills, the lawyer’s fees, and the GoFundMe. My community is still supporting me, and that’s the best part of all, because if it weren’t for that, we would have already lost our home and a lot of other things. Thanks to the community, which has been 100% amazing."

3. "With the Habeas Corpus, I feel very relieved because I know that right now my husband is going to be released, there is going to be justice, and we’re going to prove to immigration that we’re going to fight and get 42B approved as soon as possible because my husband is a hard worker, he helps a lot of people, many people believe in him, he is not a criminal; unfortunately, he was in a bad area, he didn’t care about his legal status, he didn’t care about his freedom, and he defended his son as a father should—by defending his children. And many people out there are watching because he is a father and knows how to defend his children against all odds."