Conway gas station worker known as community's 'unofficial mayor' detained by ICE
Juan Gerardo Alatorre Martinez, 46, a Mexican national who has lived in the U.S. for more than 25 years, was detained by ICE agents as he arrived for his shift at a gas station in Conway, Washington. Neighbors and coworkers described him as a beloved, well-known figure in town, sometimes calling him the 'unofficial mayor,' noting he paid taxes, kept his immigration paperwork in order, and spent years helping others in the community. Martinez had been seeking lawful permanent residency through his U.S. citizen brother. His attorney said prosecutors later acknowledged in court documents that agents had been searching for a different person and may have mistakenly targeted Martinez after finding a car he recently purchased. He remains in ICE custody at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, with community members organizing support and an online fundraiser for his legal defense raising more than $9,300.






























