HOUSTON, Texas –The family of Jose Armando Lainez Argueta is speaking out after his detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a routine police stop in Houston on March 5.
Lainez Argueta, a 40-year-old Salvadoran national, was stopped by two officers from the Houston Police Department (HPD) for a cracked windshield, according to his wife, Stephanie Diaz.
During the stop, Lainez Argueta showed the officers his Salvadoran identification, after which they called ICE, resulting in his detention.
Diaz, a U.S. citizen, described her husband as a hardworking father and business owner who is deeply involved in his family and work life.
At a press conference, she expressed her frustration, saying, “My husband doesn’t deserve to be there,” as Lainez Argueta now waits for his immigration appeal at the Montgomery Processing Center.
The couple’s daughter, Guadalupe, 10, attended the press conference and shared how her father’s detention has affected her, mentioning the difficult questions she faces at school from classmates and teachers about his absence.
The family, supported by the local immigrant rights group FIEL, is calling for an explanation from HPD regarding their policies on cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Diaz specifically questioned how the department, which has previously emphasized its limited collaboration with ICE, handled the situation.
In January, Mayor John Whitmire assured the community that immigration enforcement would primarily target individuals with criminal backgrounds, but Lainez Argueta’s arrest, which followed a recent update to a crime database, has raised concerns about local police involvement with ICE.
Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL, stressed the need for transparency, saying that the immigrant community needs clarity on how the city handles cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
He pointed to growing concerns among Texas residents about local law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.
HPD spokesperson Shay Awosiyan confirmed the details of the stop, explaining that officers followed department protocol in contacting ICE due to the presence of a warrant for Lainez Argueta in the national crime database.
Doug Griffith, spokesperson for the Houston Police Officers’ Union, echoed this, stating that the officers acted in accordance with existing department policy.
Katy Murdza from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center also called for a reevaluation of local law enforcement’s collaboration with ICE, stressing the need for policies that protect vulnerable community members and ensure they feel safe interacting with the justice system.
Angelica Cervantes, a family friend, joined the press conference to express concern over the potential impact of Lainez Argueta’s deportation on the family’s livelihood.
Diaz also voiced worries over her husband’s limited ability to understand legal documents, as he is unable to read or write, complicating the appeal process.