Berks County father detained by ICE despite pending U visa, released after court order
Jun 2025·Location: Temple, PA
Country of origin: Mexico

Erasmo Zavala, a Berks County father who had applied for a U visa after cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation into his daughter's murder, was detained by ICE in April 2025 despite his pending humanitarian visa application. During his nearly two-month detention, he was repeatedly shackled at his hands and feet and flown between facilities, including Moshannon Valley Processing Center and a facility in Louisiana, often with no explanation of where he was being taken. He said he was awakened in the middle of the night twice and driven to the airport, fearing deportation to Mexico. Zavala said, 'They treat you as if you really were some kind of criminal. But what kind of criminal dedicates himself to his family and mostly goes from work to home?' He was released following a court order from Judge Stephanie Haines, with his case tied to a dispute over a Trump administration policy rescinding protections for crime victims and witnesses cooperating with law enforcement.
Timeline
Sources
- Berks County grandfather wins release from ICE custody
spotlightpa.org·Jun 10, 2026·archived copy
- phl17.com
- Judge orders ICE to release Berks County grandfather from ‘unlawful detention’
berksweekly.com·Jun 1, 2026·archived copy
- 'He's traumatized': Father released after detention tied to San Marcos arrest
statesman.com·Jun 5, 2026·archived copy
- ICE has ramped up its use of Penn State’s airport to move detainees between immigration facilities
WITF·Sep 9, 2026
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