Migrant with Work Permit Detained in the U.S.

Posted on 03/03/25 at 12:46

Migrant with Work Permit Detained in the U.S.
As Reported by El Tiempo
Here Are the Details

Alberto Lovo Rojas, a Nicaraguan who fled his country due to political persecution and held a valid work permit in the United States, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under circumstances that his wife has described as irregular.

The case, revealed by Telemundo, has sparked outrage within the migrant community, as Lovo had no criminal record and had complied with all immigration requirements.

Despite this, ICE detained him as he was leaving a barbershop in Washington.

«He called me at that moment and said, ‘ICE got me,’ and it’s an image I can’t get out of my mind,» recounted his wife, Dora Morales, who reported that agents handcuffed him and placed him in an unmarked van without any federal identification.

Migrant with Work Permit Detained in the U.S.

Alberto Lovo Rojas has a legal work permit and a family in Spokane. He’s been detained.

This is a cruel attempt from the Trump administration to deport a hardworking, law-abiding Washingtonian who’s contributing to his community and our economy.https://t.co/ywvpabnyal

– Government Bob Ferguson (@govbobferguson) February 20, 2025

Although the Trump administration has claimed that its immigration operations target individuals deemed a threat to national security, data from NBC News show that over 41% of the 4,442 migrants arrested in the first two weeks of February had no criminal records.

Alberto Lovo Rojas is part of this group. In 2018, he fled Nicaragua after participating in peaceful protests against Daniel Ortega’s regime.

Since then, he has worked in the U.S., maintained a clean record, and was about to obtain a certification with Ford.

Additionally, he is an active member of his community and plays on a local soccer team, where he met Marcus Riccelli, a Washington state senator, who is now advocating for his release.

A Complex Immigration Process

According to Alberto Lovo Rojas’ attorney, Ruthie Jablonsky, the primary issue is that his asylum request was denied in 2021, leaving him vulnerable to immigration enforcement.

Despite having a work permit that required him to report to ICE, his immigration status remained unregularized, allowing his detention and possible deportation.

«He is not a criminal; he was just looking for a better future for our family,» his wife lamented, fearing that his deportation would place him at risk in Nicaragua and separate him from their three children.

While his family and community continue fighting for his release, Alberto Lovo’s case highlights the increasing number of non-criminal migrants who are being detained and treated as criminals under current immigration policies.

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