Rep. Joaquin Castro will visit an ICE detention center, advocating for the release of a family mistakenly detained while seeking asylum.
SAN ANTONIO — Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) is joining other leaders Tuesday in pushing for the release of families from the ICE detention Center in Dilly as an Alamo Heights man continues his fight to be reunited with is wife and sons.
Victor Labrador’s two sons, Victor and Monseratt, and his wife, Betania, were taken into custody last Monday. Since then, they have been in the Dilley ICE facility awaiting a hearing and word on when they will be reunited.
Labrador says his sons and wife were waiting for a school bus when they were taken by ICE. He said he had been walking with the family when he turned back to the apartment for his keys. When he went back to the bus stop, he saw his family surrounded by ICE. According to Labrador, Betania was told by ICE she resembled another woman they were looking for who also had two children.
The family is originally form Venezuela and were seeking asylum in the U.S. They had a court date scheduled for 2027. Labrador says they have complied with all the prior immigration requirements and have attended all the hearings they were supposed to.
Tuesday, Labrador says there is a hearing for the family scheduled in Pearsall. Rep. Joaquin Castro said on X that he is in touch with the father and plans on visiting the family today during a previously scheduled visit to Dilley.
He will be joined by Rep. Henry Cuellar (D), Rep. Silvia Garcia (D), and others. They will be holding a news conference calling for the release of children and families at the detention center.