A GoFundMe campaign, created by parents from Alamo Heights ISD, has raised more than $28,000 so far for legal fees.
ALAMO HEIGHTS, Texas — The detainment of a mother and two elementary school children by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at a Alamo Heights bus stop has sparked community outrage and support for the family as they remain in detention.
The family — identified as 11-year-old Victor Labrador, 8-year-old Monseratt Labrador and their stepmother, Betania — were taken into custody Monday morning while waiting for a school bus in the Alamo Heights area, according to the children’s father.
Victor Labrador said he had been walking with the family to the bus stop when he briefly returned to their apartment to retrieve his keys. When he came back outside, he said, immigration agents had surrounded his family.
“The moment I step out is when I see my family surrounded,” Labrador said, adding that agents later came to his door and urged him to turn himself in. He said he contacted an attorney, who advised him to remain inside.
Labrador said agents told him his family could be separated if he did not surrender.
According to Labrador, Betania told him agents requested identification, saying she resembled another woman they were searching for who also had two children.
The family, originally from Venezuela, is seeking asylum in the United States and had a court date scheduled for 2027, Labrador said. He added that they have complied with all prior immigration requirements and attended all hearings.
The three are currently being held at an ICE family detention facility in Dilley, Texas.
The incident has drawn a strong response from the local community. On Sunday, dozens of residents gathered near the intersection of Broadway and Loop 410 to call for the family’s release.
“It was terrifying. It was wrong. My heart goes out to the kids,” one speaker said at the rally.
Parents in the Alamo Heights Independent School District said children who witnessed the arrests reported the incident to classmates, prompting concern among families.
Leslie Bertolino, a parent in the district, said community members quickly organized to assist the family, helping connect them with legal representation and raising funds for expenses.
“Our main concern is making sure that the family does not have to pay for legal fees, but also has access to funds for whatever comes next,” Bertolino said.
A GoFundMe fundraiser for the family has raised more than $28,000 as of Sunday, organizers said.
Advocates say the case highlights broader concerns about immigration enforcement in the San Antonio area, where arrests of migrants — including families and children — have previously drawn criticism from community members and legal groups.
Labrador said the outpouring of support has helped his family endure the uncertainty.
“They have made me feel the support from the community and have made us feel loved, and that gives us hope,” he said.
A hearing for the family is scheduled for Tuesday in Pearsall, Texas.
If you would like to help the family, you can find the GoFundMe by clicking here.