A fundraising effort is underway for Omar Salazar, a Dallas activist who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the weekend.
Salazar, who was visiting his longtime girlfriend in Lubbock, Texas, was pulled over by a police officer for a traffic violation.
After providing his ID to the officer, an immigration official arrived to arrest him on the spot, according to his attorney, Jacob Monty.
As reported on Tuesday afternoon, Salazar is now being held at the Blue Bonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, approximately 200 miles west of Dallas.
“Imagine this, Omar ate breakfast in Lubbock, never expecting that he’d be facing the fight of his life Friday afternoon,” Monty stated.
He emphasized that Salazar was just a regular Texas resident enjoying the start of a long holiday weekend before being thrust into a challenging situation.
Originally from Mexico, Salazar entered the U.S. with his family in 2008, but he never obtained legal status.
Colleagues and friends describe him as a community leader.
He was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Trini Garza Early College and graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) as a Hunt Scholar.
Currently, Salazar works in the artificial intelligence (AI) industry and has no criminal history, according to Monty, who stated that Salazar poses no flight risk.
“This is a case that shows that in the administration’s effort to go after the bad guys that no one’s shedding a tear for,” Monty added.
He highlighted the broad sweep of current immigration policies, which have affected individuals like Salazar, despite their contributions to society.
President Donald Trump campaigned on a platform focused on increasing deportations, prioritizing individuals with violent criminal records.
However, analysis by the Associated Press indicates that many individuals detained under this initiative have not committed serious crimes.
Salazar’s first hearing is scheduled for October.
A new immigration policy issued by the Department of Homeland Security in July could mean that Salazar may not be eligible for bond, requiring him to contest his deportation while in custody.
Veronica Franco, one of Salazar’s attorneys, explained that this new immigration framework has resulted in mandatory detention for many individuals who previously would have been able to secure their release on bond.
Monty expressed that Salazar remains hopeful and is trusting that “common sense prevails.”
While Monty is representing Salazar pro bono, friends have launched a Go Fund Me campaign called ‘Free Omar Salazar’ to cover additional legal costs.
Thus far, over $40,000 has been raised for his defense.
Luis Rodriguez, a co-organizer of the Go Fund Me account, noted that the bonds Salazar has fostered with community leaders and neighbors are a testament to his character.
Rodriguez expressed hope that these leaders will amplify their voices for Salazar in his time of need.
image source from：keranews
