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Legal resident since 1967 held nearly 9 months by ICE

A 66-year-old legal resident since 1967 and longtime legal assistant was detained at San Francisco airport returning from visiting his son, an Air Force member, in Japan. He was freed after nearly nine months and returned home to San Diego.

May 7, 2025San Francisco, CACountry of origin: Mexico

Legal resident since 1967 held nearly 9 months by ICE
Photo via Day of Law

A 66-year-old legal permanent resident since 1967 and longtime legal assistant was detained by ICE at San Francisco International Airport on May 7, 2025, after returning from visiting his son, an active-duty U.S. Air Force member, in Japan. The detention stemmed from a 2009 misdemeanor DUI and drug possession conviction, though a CBP spokesperson later referenced additional arrests, including petty theft. After an immigration judge granted him relief and the government declined to appeal, he was released in early 2026 following nearly nine months in detention, including time at a facility near Bakersfield, California, and has returned home to San Diego. A GoFundMe campaign had raised tens of thousands of dollars to support his legal defense.

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