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Work-authorized immigrant detained after traffic stop, released after two months in ICE custody

Jul 6, 2026 · Evans City, PA, Mexico

Work-authorized immigrant detained after traffic stop, released after two months in ICE custody

Ignacio Carrizalez, a Mexican national with work authorization and an active citizenship application, was detained by ICE agents on April 28, 2026, after Evans City Police stopped his vehicle for an expired registration. ICE agents surrounded his car, and after he refused to answer questions about his citizenship status, he was taken to Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Clearfield County. His wife, Amanda Smail-Carrizalez, a U.S. citizen, reported agents removed him "violently" from the vehicle. While detained, Carrizalez missed a scheduled permanent residency hearing on June 1st, and an immigration judge subsequently ordered him to either self-deport or be deported. On June 26, 2026, he was unexpectedly released after more than two months in custody, just before he was scheduled to be transferred to a facility in Mexico, with his deportation date postponed to September 2026. His wife testified before Butler County Commissioners about the financial and psychological toll on their six-year-old daughter with autism, who experienced nightmares, and the family applied for public assistance following his arrest.

Timeline

Jun 26, 2026Carrizalez unexpectedly released from ICE custody after more than two months, just before scheduled transfer to facility in Mexico; deportation date postponed to September 2026
Jun 1, 2026Carrizalez missed scheduled permanent residency hearing while in custody
Jun 1, 2026Immigration judge ordered Carrizalez to either self-deport or be deported
Apr 28, 2026Ignacio Carrizalez detained by ICE agents following traffic stop by Evans City Police for expired registration; taken to Moshannon Valley Processing Center
Jun 17, 2026Amanda Smail-Carrizalez testified before Butler County Commissioners about detention's impact on family, bringing public attention to case

Sources

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