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Decatur father detained by ICE; students raise $20,000 for his family

Aug 16, 2026·Location: Decatur, GA

Country of origin: Peru

Decatur father detained by ICE; students raise $20,000 for his family

Angel Ivan Chavez Salas, a father of two who works as an HVAC technician in Decatur, Georgia, was arrested by ICE agents outside his home on August 16. He arrived in the U.S. lawfully on a visa in 2016 and applied for asylum after fleeing political persecution in Peru, regularly attending immigration interviews but never having had a hearing before a judge. His attorney, Peter Isbister, said Chavez Salas has no criminal history. He is currently held at the D. Ray James Processing Center in southeast Georgia awaiting a court date. Students at Decatur High School, including a friend of his son, organized an online fundraiser that raised nearly $20,000 from more than 300 donors to support his family.

Timeline

Sep 1, 2026Reports detail his detention at D. Ray James Processing Center and student-led fundraiser raising nearly $20,000
Aug 16, 2026Angel Ivan Chavez Salas detained by ICE agents outside his home in Decatur, Georgia
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