Venezuelan restaurant owner detained by ICE after organizing earthquake relief for home country
Jul 16, 2026·Location: El Paso, TX
Country of origin: Venezuela

Jorge Vilchez, owner of Caracas Latin Food restaurant in El Paso, Texas, was detained by ICE on July 16, 2026. A Venezuelan national who arrived in the United States on September 22, 2019, on a visa that expired on March 21, 2020, Vilchez had recently organized a humanitarian aid campaign through his restaurant to collect food, medicine, and supplies for earthquake victims in Venezuela on June 24. According to his family, he has no criminal record and had gained recognition in the El Paso community for his relief efforts and commitment to helping others. His asylum case remains pending before an immigration judge. He is being held at the Otero County Processing Center in New Mexico. His family and friends launched fundraising campaigns, including a GoFundMe, to cover legal fees and immigration process costs, while the restaurant announced it will continue operating during normal business hours.
Timeline
Sources
- Owner of Caracas Latin Food detained by ICE, DHS says
cbs4local.com·Jul 18, 2026·archived copy
kfoxtv.com·Jul 18, 2026·archived copy
- ICE detuvo en Texas a venezolano que recolectó ayuda para las víctimas de los terremotos
lapatilla.com·Jul 18, 2026·archived copy
- KTSM
- ICE detains owner of Venezuelan restaurant
Yahoo News·Jul 22, 2026·archived copy
aol.com·Jul 22, 2026·archived copy
- Detención De Jorge Vilchez, Propietario Del Restaurante Caracas Latin Food En El Paso
noticiaselpaso.com·Jul 17, 2026·archived copy
- KTSM
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