People with work permits detained at an airport in Texas
Stories describe people with valid work permits or pending immigration cases detained by ICE at Texas airports, including in El Paso, Dallas, Houston, and McAllen, often while traveling for work or family visits. Those detained have included a pharmacy instructor, a pastor, an engineer, a physician, and a minor-league coach; most remain held, though some were later released on bond. First documented in March 2026, the pattern became recurring by August 2026 and represents a larger share of recent reported cases than earlier ones.
First documented Mar 2026, 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.
6 stories in 1 state. What accompanies this practice →
“After leaving the United room, eight officers, ICE agents swarmed Yasmin and detained her. (They) didn't tell us why and wrestled her off into a car,”
Texas
Oswaldo P.: Padres minor-league coach detained by ICE at El Paso airportOswaldo José Pirela, 34, a Padres minor-league coaching coordinator and father of two living near Phoenix, was detained at El Paso airport while traveling for work; he was released on bond August 24.El Paso, TX · Aug 24, 2026 · NBC DFW, NBC News, 10News +13
Berhanu K.: Award-winning pharmacy instructor with work permit detained by ICE at Dallas airportBerhanu Kibret, a University of Maryland pharmacy instructor just honored as teacher of the year, was detained at Dallas airport returning from a conference and remains held despite valid work authorization.Dallas, TX · Aug 19, 2026 · The Banner, CBS News, The Guardian +7
Luis M.P.: Venezuelan pastor seeking asylum detained by ICE at Houston airportPastor Luis Alfredo Morales Pérez, 50, who leads four Houston-area congregations, was detained at the airport while heading to visit his daughters with his wife. He is held in Livingston, Texas, as his team seeks bond.Houston, TX · Aug 12, 2026 · Telemundo, A Today, Telemundo Houston +7
Yasmin S.R.: Venezuelan woman with pending asylum case detained by ICE at Houston airportYasmin Suarez Reyes, 45, was detained at a Houston airport while traveling with her fiancé, despite having a pending asylum case, work permit and no criminal record. Her fiancé said agents "wrestled her off into a car" without explanation.“After leaving the United room, eight officers, ICE agents swarmed Yasmin and detained her. (They) didn't tell us why and wrestled her off into a car,” — John GannonHouston, TX · Jul 24, 2026 · CBS News, Newsweek, HuffPost- Shriram K.: Engineer detained by ICE at McAllen airport, 8-year-old son left waitingShriram Krishnan, an engineer in the U.S. since 2003 with a pending green card case, was detained at a Texas airport before a flight to meet his newborn nephew. His 8-year-old son still awaits his return.McAllen, TX · Apr 16, 2026 · Border Report, Valley Central, Deportation Preparation +1
Rubeliz B.B.: Venezuelan doctor with valid work permit held a month by ICEDr. Rubeliz Bolívar Barrios, 33, a physician with a valid work permit through 2030, was freed on bail after over a month in detention following her arrest at an airport despite valid documents.McAllen, TX · Mar 2026 · FOX RGV, KRGV, Caraota Digital +2