Immigrant from Nicaragua and his family have been holed up at home for several days to evade ICE agents following a high-speed chase.
In a tense standoff that has lasted over a week, Roberto Reyes, a 32-year-old Nicaraguan immigrant, and his family have barricaded themselves in their Fontana, California home, following an attempted arrest by immigration agents on July 30.
The incident occurred while Reyes was on his way to work, with four white cars blocking his vehicle. Since then, the family has noticed unknown cars parked near or in their apartment building's parking lot, and agents have been approaching their apartment. However, no warrant or summons has been presented to them.
Roberto Reyes, an electrician, has been unable to go to work due to the isolation. His wife, three children, and mother-in-law have also been affected. The family left Nicaragua due to political persecution and sought asylum at the southern border three years ago.
The family's plight has sparked support from the community and a local immigration coalition. Javier Hernandez, executive director for the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, has provided food, personal hygiene items, and water to the family.
Reyes' case has reignited debates about sanctuary city policies in Fontana and California, with calls for protections to limit federal immigration enforcement locally. However, ICE has not issued an official statement about this attempted arrest.
Reports suggest that earlier criminal charges against Reyes were dismissed by a court in San Bernardino. Legal advocates express concerns about ICE potentially acting without accountability and violating federal court orders.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have videos showing the moment and situation involving Reyes barricading himself at home after ICE's arrest attempt.
The incident and isolation have negatively impacted the mental health of Reyes' family. His children have not attended school due to the family's isolation. The family is also concerned about the health of Reyes' mother-in-law, who is recovering from lung surgery.
Reyes claims he was wrongfully accused in relation to an incident with a neighbor and the case has been dismissed. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson described Reyes as a "dangerous criminal illegal alien" with a history of assault with a deadly weapon, exhibiting a deadly weapon, and disturbing the peace. An officer was seen waving a set of keys in front of one of the security cameras installed outside the family's apartment.
Hearing a knock on the door is traumatic for Reyes' family, as an immigration officer kicked the front door of Reyes' apartment multiple times, trying to break it down, according to security footage.
For more information about Roberto Jose Reyes Castro's immigration case, you can consult VisaVerge.com, AOL News, LATACO, and local immigrant rights organizations, legal aid groups specializing in immigration defense, and Fontana city government for updates and resources. Staying informed by monitoring these sources will help understand both legal and community dynamics surrounding Roberto Reyes's situation.
- The ongoing standoff between Roberto Reyes and immigration agents in Fontana, California, has sparked discussions in the general news and politics realms, with questions being raised about the actions of ICE and the implications for sanctuary city policies.
- The case of Roberto Reyes, a Nicaraguan immigrant accused of crime and justice-related incidents, has elevated tensions between local advocates and ICE, leading to debates about accountability and federal court orders in the broader context of immigration enforcement.
