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Houston pastor detained by ICE at airport while traveling with wife

Aug 12, 2026 · Houston, TX, Venezuela

Houston pastor detained by ICE at airport while traveling with wife

Luis Alfredo Morales Pérez, 50, a Venezuelan pastor who leads four Seventh-day Adventist congregations in the Houston area, primarily in Pasadena, and has served the Texas Conference since January 2023, was detained by ICE agents on Aug. 6, 2026, at George Bush Intercontinental Airport as he and his wife, Karina, prepared to fly to New York to see their daughters. His wife said two agents approached the couple by name and arrested him before they passed through security. Morales entered the U.S. in 2020 and was granted Temporary Protected Status in December 2023, which ICE says was terminated in November 2025 after the Supreme Court allowed DHS's termination of TPS for Venezuelans to take effect; his wife and attorney say he has a pending asylum case and no criminal record. The Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said he holds valid employment authorization and described his 'commitment to our mission and the families he serves' as 'unwavering,' asking congregants to pray for him and his family. He is being held at an ICE detention center in Livingston, Texas, where he has been able to speak with his family by phone while his legal team gathers documents to request bond; his case is reported to be at least the third involving a Texas pastor detained at an airport in the past month.

Timeline

Oct 1, 2026Supreme Court allowed termination of TPS for Venezuelan nationals to take effect
Aug 12, 2026Attorney and legal team gathering documents to request bond for his release
Aug 6, 2026Detained by ICE agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport while traveling with wife to New York
Aug 6, 2026Transferred to ICE detention center in Livingston, Texas; able to speak with family by phone
Nov 1, 2025His Temporary Protected Status expired/was terminated
Dec 1, 2023Granted Temporary Protected Status

Sources

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