Raul Ical remains in federal custody after fleeing deportation twice, with his next court appearance expected in four to six weeks.
SAN ANTONIO — The man who hid from authorities in a tree for hours in San Antonio was back in federal court on Wednesday.
Raul Ical, whose legal name is Raymundo Caal Caal, is a Guatemalan national who authorities say entered the U.S. illegally twice since 2013.
Back in April, he ran from authorities twice to avoid deportation.
“He has no defense”: That’s what Raul Ical’s court-appointed attorney told KENS 5 after his detention hearing today.
Just after 10 a.m. Wednesday, Ical, sitting in a suit and shackles, was told by a judge he would remain in federal custody based on the fact that he ran from authorities twice.
The first time was on April 14. Ice attempted to arrest him, but when authorities approached, Homeland Security said he ran and hid in his home.
Then, on April 29, ICE attempted to arrest Ical during a traffic stop. Authorities said he ran and spent hours up in a tree. That evening, he came down and was arrested.
HSI said Ical entered the U.S. in 2013 from Guatemala and was deported a month later, only to return to the U.S. at an unknown time.
In 2024, he was arrested and charged with a DWI. That case is still pending in court.
Now he awaits indictment on the charge of illegal reentry after deportation and could be in court in the next four to six weeks.