HISD student's asylum approval reversed, detained by ICE after misdemeanor arrest
Jun 23, 2026·Location: Houston, TX

Geremy Arteaga Cruz, a 19-year-old Lamar High School junior, was detained by ICE in January 2026 after the Trump administration reversed his asylum application approval, which had been granted by USCIS in June 2025. Arteaga Cruz arrived in the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor in 2023 with his twin sister. He was arrested at a convenience store on a misdemeanor public intoxication charge, pleaded guilty, and paid fines, but was transferred to ICE custody while in Harris County jail instead of being released. Before his detention, he was a student at Lamar High School, volunteered at an English literacy program at the University of St. Thomas, and worked as a barber. He has also been identified as a victim of human trafficking and has a pending T visa application. As of June 2026, Arteaga Cruz has been held at Polk Adult Detention Facility for four months. His attorneys contend that had USCIS issued a timely notice of its asylum decision, he would not have been detained. His asylum case is scheduled to be heard by an immigration judge on June 23, 2026.
Timeline
Sources
- HISD student in ICE custody faces new immigration fight after asylum setback
Houston Chronicle·Jun 4, 2026·archived copy
- ICE detention gets colder for beloved HISD soccer captain: 'I'm more afraid'
Houston Chronicle·Mar 6, 2026·archived copy
- MSN
- An HISD student nearly completed his U.S. asylum process. Then ICE detained him
Houston Chronicle·Jun 3, 2026·archived copy
- Congresswoman, attorney argue a Houston ISD student from Russia is here legally. He was detained by ICE anyway | Houston Public Media
houstonpublicmedia.org·Jul 27, 2026·archived copy
- Fact Check: 18-Year-Old Alim Garipov Was Living in the US Legally Before Being Detained by ICE
essentiallysports.com·Jul 27, 2026·archived copy
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