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Venezuelan school custodian detained by ICE while driving to work, union demands release

Aug 9, 2026 · St. Johns County, FL, Venezuela

Venezuelan school custodian detained by ICE while driving to work, union demands release

Leonel Armando Bolívar Linares, a 29-year-old Venezuelan custodian at a St. Johns County school, was detained by ICE agents on August 5, 2026, while driving to work after a traffic stop. Bolívar Linares holds a valid work permit and driver's license, has a pending asylum application, and is legally present in the country. He has no criminal record and holds a university degree in journalism. His mother, Dayana Linares, and other family members who also work at the school expressed concern about the manner of his arrest and fear of deportation, noting that returning to Venezuela would pose a risk to his safety. His union, the St. Johns Educational Support Professionals Association, backed him and demanded his release. His family is raising funds to cover immigration bond, attorney's fees, and legal expenses.

Timeline

Aug 9, 2026Union and family members publicly demand Bolívar Linares's release; family begins fundraising for bond and legal fees
Aug 5, 2026Leonel Armando Bolívar Linares detained by ICE after traffic stop while driving to work

Sources

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