Traffic stopFloridaVenezuela
Venezuelan immigrants taken at a traffic stop in Florida
Stories describe Venezuelan immigrants in Florida detained by ICE or CBP after routine traffic stops, car accidents, or while driving to work or school, in cities including Miami, Orlando, Doral, and St. Augustine. Many held valid work permits or pending asylum cases; most remain detained, one was deported and later fatally shot, one died, and one self-deported. First documented in July 2025, the pattern became recurring in August 2026 and now makes up a larger share of reported stories than earlier periods, peaking that same month.
First documented Jul 2025, recurring since Aug 2026. A larger share of recent stories than earlier ones.
Share of each month's well-documented stories, Jan 2025 to Oct 2026. Volume is not shown: coverage grew over the record, shares did not have to.
15 stories in 1 state. What accompanies this practice →
Florida
- Carlos F.C.: Venezuelan man re-detained after traffic stop, held without a bond hearingA Venezuelan man paroled into the U.S. in 2024 was detained after a traffic stop and denied a bond hearing. A federal judge ordered one within seven days or his release.Baker, FL · Oct 15, 2026 · CourtListener
Luis Alejandro O.G. and Luis O.L.: Venezuelan scholarship student and father detained by ICE during Florida traffic stopLuis Alejandro Olarte Gosling, 19, a scholarship student, and his father were detained during a Florida traffic stop while driving him back to school. Both remain held, reporting extreme heat and little food.St. Augustine, FL · Sep 6, 2026 · The News-Gazette, Clearinghouse, WSLS
Humberto C.: Venezuelan asylum seeker with work permit detained by ICE in Doral, FloridaHumberto Castro, 59, who has lived in Doral, Florida for eight years and holds a work permit through 2030, was detained while driving to work. He has a pending asylum case and no criminal record.Doral, FL · Sep 6, 2026 · El País, Briefly
Wilmer S.: Venezuelan journalist awaiting asylum since 2015 detained by CBP in MiamiWilmer Solano, a 59-year-old Venezuelan journalist with a pending asylum case, was detained during a traffic stop in Miami Beach despite holding a valid work permit. He faces an immigration court hearing on August 26, 2026.Miami Beach, FL · Aug 26, 2026 · Caraota Digital, Noticias SIN, El Nacional +7
Leonel B.L.: Venezuelan school custodian with work permit detained by ICE driving to workLeonel Armando Bolívar Linares, 29, a Venezuelan school custodian with a pending asylum case, was detained while driving to work after a traffic stop. His union is demanding his release.St. Johns County, FL · Aug 9, 2026 · San Jose Citizen, El Pitazo- Jorge R.B.: Venezuelan man re-detained by ICE after traffic stop, held in North FloridaA Venezuelan man paroled into the U.S. in 2023 was detained after a traffic stop while appealing his removal order. A federal court ordered him given a bond hearing within seven days or released.Baker County, FL · Aug 3, 2026 · CourtListener
Jorge Luis R.: Venezuelan husband detained by ICE while U.S. citizen wife battles breast cancerJorge Luis Eliecer Ruiz, 36, was detained near Coconut Creek while his U.S. citizen wife battles breast cancer. The couple married in 2025 and had filed for his permanent residency.Coconut Creek, FL · Aug 3, 2026 · CBS News
Diego Armando E.P.: Venezuelan cook detained at traffic stop, self-deports after 11 years in U.S.Diego Armando Escalona Polanco, 19, a Chipotle cook in Orlando, was detained after a traffic stop and self-deported after 11 years in the U.S., reuniting with family in Maracaibo.Orlando, FL · Jun 16, 2026 · WUFT, WLRN, WUSF +1
Henry M.H.: Ex-Venezuelan army major held by ICE after DUI charge droppedHenry Morales Hernandez, 55, a former Venezuelan Army major and grandfather who fled Maduro's government, remains in ICE custody after a dismissed DUI charge and a denied bond request.Florida, FL · May 26, 2026 · Newsweek, CourtListener
Juan T.: Asylum-seeking father of Atlanta United player detained by ICE at traffic stopJuan Tablante, a Venezuelan asylum seeker since 2016 and father of an Atlanta United soccer player, was detained during a traffic stop despite holding a valid work permit. His son is raising funds for his legal defense.Orlando, FL · May 9, 2026 · El Nacional, Univision
María Alejandra R.M.: Asylum seeker held by ICE after Miami car crashMaría Alejandra Rivas Martínez, 19, was driving her girlfriend to a medical appointment when her car was rear-ended in Miami, leading a state officer to alert ICE and have her detained despite a pending asylum case.Miami, FL · Apr 14, 2026 · Alertas 24, Cactus 24, Caraota Digital +1
Jesús C.: Deported Venezuelan TPS holder fatally shot at Guárico homeJesús Carpio, a Venezuelan living in Orlando with a pending asylum case, was deported after a month in ICE custody and fatally shot by gunmen at his family's home days later.Orlando, FL · Apr 4, 2026 · Mundo Now, Contra Poder News, El Venezolano Newspaper +1
Johnny R.R.: Venezuelan asylum seeker with brain tumor held 25 days without medicationJohnny Rondón Rodríguez, a Venezuelan asylum seeker with a brain tumor, was held 25 days in an Orange County jail without his medication. A federal judge ordered his immediate release.Orlando, FL · Mar 27, 2026 · Seattle Times, WLRN, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida +2
Johan B.: Miami yoga teacher detained by ICE minutes before classJohan Blanco, 44, a yoga instructor from Venezuela who has taught in Miami since 2015, was detained minutes before teaching a sold-out class. A GoFundMe has raised over $40,700 for his legal fees.Miami, FL · Aug 15, 2025 · Miami New Times, The Miami
Wilmer S.D.: Venezuelan journalist stopped by CBP, held 19 days in ICE tentWilmer Roberto Solano Dávila, 59, a Venezuelan journalist and Uber driver with a pending asylum case, was detained during a rideshare trip and held 19 days in a crowded outdoor tent before release on bond.Miami, FL · Jul 26, 2025 · Latin Times, Los Angeles Times, Press Freedom Tracker +2