A Salvadorian father who had been living undocumented in the US for 30 years was taken by ICE after being detained for driving on a suspended license.
Alexis Cana came to the US in his teens and built a family in Maryland, where he raised eight American children and founded a home improvement business.
The 49-year-old had no criminal record, but was detained last month for driving with a suspended license. He was given a two-day sentence and was arrested by ICE as he left court.
Cana is now being held at a detention facility in Mississippi and facing deportation after an immigration judge called him a ‘danger to the community.’ and denied him bond.
His family acknowledges he should not have been driving on a suspended license but think the punishment does not fit the crime.
‘I’m having faith that it will be okay, but at the same time, I’m honestly really terrified, my family is terrified,’ Cana’s oldest daughter Diana told NBC Washington.
An immigration judge noted Cana was in the country illegally and claimed he had made no efforts to get legal status.
The judge, who has not been named, branded Cana ‘dangerous’ but did not provide any details of his alleged violent background.
Meanwhile Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins called Cana ‘collateral damage’ amid president Donald Trump’s mission to end illegal immigration and deport those in the US who are undocumented.
El Salvador native Alexis Cana was detained by ICE after spending 30 years in the US while undocumented
Cana was detained by ICE after he was released from jail over the criminal misdemeanor of driving with a suspended license
His family acknowledges he should not have been driving on a suspended license but think the punishment does not fit the crime
‘It’s gonna be hard, strict enforcement; ICE has said that, the president has said that, and unfortunately, I guess you would categorize this as collateral damage,’ he said.
Jenkins added: ‘When you think about the person, you think about the family, sure, you feel bad, there’s heartache that goes with it, I feel sad for ‘em… But again, I gotta think of what’s best for this country and what’s best for Americans.’
Cana was flagged to ICE thanks to a deal between the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and ICE.
A GoFundMe for Cana and his family has received over $15,000.
ICE arrests have ballooned since Trump returned to the White House in January with the promise to deport millions.
While his administration says it is focusing on the worst of the worst criminals, many of those detained do not have a criminal record, they are only guilty of the civil offense of being in the country illegally.
In Maryland, driving without a suspended license is a criminal misdemeanor.
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father who lived in Maryland for decades, has sparked a liberal outcry as the mass arrests and deportations continue.
He was deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration who claims he has ties to MS-13. But a judge ruled the US government must bring him back because another judicial ruling shielded him from deportation after he argued his life was in danger in El Salvador.
ICE arrests have ballooned since Trump returned to the White House in January with the promise to deport millions
The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father who lived in Maryland for decades, has divided the nation as the mass arrests and deportations continue
Still, the White House insists the undocumented migrant has ties to MS-13 and said it will not bring him back from El Salvador.
Meanwhile hundreds of Venezuelan migrants were deported to El Salvador and sent to what has been called the world’s worst prison.
The US says the Venezuelans deported on March 15 were members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization that president Trump declared an invading force, but has provided no evidence of their alleged membership.
The Alien Enemies Act allows noncitizens to be deported without the opportunity to go before an immigration or federal court judge.
A gay Venezuelan makeup artist who fled his home nation to escape persecution for his sexual orientation and political beliefs was one of those shipped to the maximum prison.
Andry Jose Hernandez Romero, 31, was detained at the Mexico-US border last year when he requested entry to attend a pre-arranged asylum hearing in San Diego, California.
The makeup artist and hairdresser was reportedly trying to claim asylum to avoid crackdowns in Venezuela by strongman Nicolas Maduro who is widely accused of stealing the July 2024 election to continue his reign.
But border agents arrested him after noticing tattoos on his wrists that read ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’ adorned with a pair of crowns.
Hernandez waited months in detention for an immigration court hearing on March 13, but instead was put one of three planes with 237 other migrants and deported
The make up artist’s tattoos were derived from his upbringing in his home town of Capacho, famed for its ‘Three Kings Day’ – but border agents suspected they were gang symbols
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claimed that Hernandez’s crown tattoos ‘are consistent’ with those adopted by members of Tren de Aragua – a notorious Venezuelan gang known for human trafficking and extortion throughout Latin America.
In reality, the makeup artist’s tattoos were derived from his upbringing in his hometown of Capacho, famed for its ‘Three Kings Day,’ which sees thousands of Christians turn out in the streets to participate in carnival-like celebrations every year.
Many residents of the town are inked with the same tattoos to signify their faith and culture, according to Miguel Chacon, the president of Capacho’s Three Kings Day foundation.
Despite no other evidence to suggest Hernandez had any gang connections, he languished in detention for months until his immigration court hearing on March 13, after which he was put on one of three planes with 237 other migrants and deported.
Hernandez’ mother Alexis has told the Guardian she has received no word from her son since he arrived in El Salvador’s notorious CECOT prison.
