Alex Pereira-Alves, a Brazilian immigrant who has lived in West Hollywood for over a decade, was detained by ICE agents on August 12, 2026, during a sudden summons to a federal building downtown. Pereira-Alves had been working legally as a security guard and personal trainer since 2018, when a judge granted him withholding of removal from the country. His attorney, Jane Oaks, says he was not scheduled to check in until November but received an unexpected call ordering him to report the next day. Within minutes of arrival, ICE agents handcuffed and detained him, telling him he would be deported to Guyana, despite having no connection to that country. His friend Jeff Markwardt expressed concern for Pereira-Alves' wellbeing and noted that his beloved dog, Bella, remains in the community. Pereira-Alves' attorney is filing an emergency habeas corpus petition, arguing he was denied due process.