Trump voter pleads for fiancée’s release after ICE arrest: “They’re destroying families”
Trump Voter Pleads for Fiancée After ICE Arrest in Texas
Wertynews.com – A devoted Trump voter pleads for fiancée Yasmin Suarez Reyes' release after she was detained by federal immigration agents at Houston's international airport. John Gannon, a 75-year-old Texas businessman and lifelong Republican, says he deeply regrets his decision to vote for President Trump following the arrest that has derailed their wedding plans.
"I voted for Trump," Gannon told CBS News during a Wednesday interview. "They are picking up law-abiding citizens. They're destroying families, jobs."
Arrest at Houston Airport Shatters Wedding Plans
Gannon said he and Suarez Reyes were preparing to travel from Houston to Las Vegas on July 24 for a furniture industry convention when the arrest occurred. The businessman owns more than 1,000 billboards across the United States and operates several establishments in Mexico, including a hotel and restaurant.
"After leaving the United room, eight officers, ICE agents swarmed Yasmin and detained her. They didn't tell us why and wrestled her off into a car," Gannon recounted.
When asked what he would tell President Trump if given the opportunity, Gannon said he would simply ask: "What are you doing? Go after the criminals. We're all for that. But leave the mom and pops and the kids alone. Man, he's destroying families."
Legal Status and Pending Asylum Case
According to Anne Kennedy, Suarez Reyes' immigration attorney and another lifelong Republican, her client was arrested despite entering the United States legally, maintaining a pending immigration case, and having no criminal record.
Government records reviewed by CBS News confirm that Suarez Reyes entered the U.S. legally in October 2023 under the Visa Waiver Program. While born in Venezuela, she holds Spanish citizenship, making her eligible for visa-free travel to the United States as a tourist or temporary traveler. Stays under this program typically last 90 days.
However, Suarez Reyes submitted an asylum application with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in January 2024 before her initial stay expired. Documents show her asylum case remains pending. Kennedy noted that her client obtained a work permit and Texas driver's license during this period.
Kennedy explained that Suarez Reyes would have a pathway to apply for permanent U.S. residency, or a green card, if she could marry Gannon, an American citizen. Because her underlying permission to remain in the country expired, she was detained for deportation processing, according to correspondence Kennedy received from ICE.
Part of Broader ICE Airport Crackdown
CBS News contacted the Department of Homeland Security multiple times regarding Suarez Reyes' case but has not yet received a response. Earlier this week, ICE's online detainee tracking system showed she was being held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas.
"For almost two weeks now, she has been in a physical jail cell, when she has done nothing more than follow the laws of the United States and do what our immigration laws allow her to do," Kennedy said.
Suarez Reyes is among numerous immigrants arrested in recent weeks at airports nationwide as part of the Trump administration's intensified deportation efforts. Last month, ICE arrests reached a record monthly high, largely driven by these airport detentions.
Like Suarez Reyes, many individuals caught in ICE's airport crackdown occupy a legal gray area. They hold valid work permits and have legal immigration cases pending, yet remain vulnerable to arrest due to expired status.
FAQ: Understanding Suarez Reyes' Case
How did Yasmin Suarez Reyes enter the United States? She entered legally in October 2023 under the Visa Waiver Program, holding Spanish citizenship which allows visa-free travel for up to 90 days.
What is her current immigration status? She applied for asylum in January 2024 before her initial 90-day stay expired. Her asylum case remains pending, and she holds a work permit and Texas driver's license.
Why was she detained despite having legal documentation? Her underlying permission to remain in the U.S. expired, making her subject to detention for deportation processing even though her asylum case is still pending.
What path exists for her to stay in the United States? If she marries Gannon, an American citizen, she would have an avenue to apply for permanent U.S. residency, commonly known as a green card.
Where is she being held? According to ICE's online detainee tracking system, she was being held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas.