Texas lawmakers from both parties denounce ICE for detaining teen mariachi brothers honored by Congress
Key Takeaways
- Two brothers, ages 14 and 18, from a Texas high school mariachi ensemble were detained by ICE alongside their family, drawing bipartisan criticism.
- Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) urged federal agencies to reconsider the detention; Castro claims the family had been granted asylum.
- DHS said the parents were detained on 25 February and asserted they were in the U.S. illegally; the 18-year-old is held in an adult facility, while the rest are in family detention.
- The case underscores how ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) can detain asylum-seeking families at routine check-ins, even when they have complied with court dates.
What happened
Texas lawmakers from both parties criticized ICE for detaining Antonio Yesayahu Gámez-Cuéllar, 18, and his brother Caleb, 14—members of a celebrated high school mariachi group—along with their parents and 12-year-old brother. The family, residents of McAllen, reportedly appeared for an ICE appointment on 25 February and were taken into custody. The brothers had traveled to Washington, DC, last year after their ensemble, Mariachi Ono, won a state competition and were honored on the House floor at the invitation of Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), who called the family’s story “heartbreaking” and said she is pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for options.
Conflicting claims and detention locations
Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) said the family “did everything the right way,” alleging they applied for and were granted asylum and attended all required court dates and check-ins. It has been reported that DHS said ICE detained the parents on 25 February and asserted they were in the country illegally. According to Castro, the parents and two younger sons are being held at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, while Antonio, who recently turned 18, is held at a separate adult facility. The father told the New York Times the family fled threats in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, after he was allegedly kidnapped by cartel members and entered the U.S. in 2023 at the Brownsville crossing to seek asylum.
What the law allows—and what detainees can expect
ICE, a DHS agency that enforces immigration law inside the U.S., has broad authority to detain noncitizens in removal proceedings, including asylum seekers. Applying for asylum allows a person to remain while their case is pending but does not by itself prevent detention. Adults 18 and over are typically held in adult detention; families with minor children may be placed in family residential centers like Dilley. Depending on their classification (for example, “arriving” asylum seekers) and criminal history, detainees may seek parole from ICE or, in some cases, a bond hearing before an immigration judge. For families complying with check-ins, the prospect of detention at routine appointments highlights the uncertainty many asylum applicants face as their cases wind through a backlogged system.
Why it matters
For immigrants with pending cases—especially families with school-age children—this detention signals that even high-profile community members who have complied with requirements are not necessarily shielded from enforcement. Policy watchers will be looking to see whether DHS exercises discretion, as urged by De La Cruz and Castro, and whether the family pursues parole or other relief. For now, the case has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how ICE prioritizes enforcement and how the U.S. treats asylum-seeking families who have embedded in their communities.
Source: Original Article