Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz was strolling his household’s canine in Van Nuys on a current morning when he was taken into custody by federal immigration officers, in response to authorities and revealed stories.
Guerrero-Cruz, who turned 18 this month, was set to begin his senior 12 months at Reseda Constitution Excessive Faculty on Thursday, in response to a GoFundMe web page set as much as help his household and authorized charges. As a substitute, he’s being held in Division of Homeland Safety custody pending removing from america, the company confirmed in a assertion to KTLA-TV.
“Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz, an unlawful alien from Chile, overstayed his visa by greater than two years, abusing the Visa Waiver Program beneath which he entered america, which required him to depart america on March 15, 2023,” the assertion learn.
The division didn’t instantly reply to an e mail from The Occasions for additional remark.
Benjamin Guerrero-Cruz was taken into custody by immigration officers and is being held pending removing, in response to the Division of Homeland Safety.
(Rita Silva)
When he was taken into custody Friday morning, immigration brokers tied his canine to a tree after which unclipped his collar, permitting the animal to run free on Sepulveda Boulevard, in response to the GoFundMe web page.
“He’s greater than only a scholar — he’s a faithful son, a caring brother, a loyal buddy, and a valued member of our group. He carries an amazing quantity of duty at house, serving to take care of his five-month-old twin brothers and his six-year-old brother. He is an efficient scholar, with a form coronary heart, who has all the time stepped up for his household,” in response to the GoFundMe web page.
Los Angeles Unified Faculty District Supt. Alberto Carvalho stated throughout a information convention Thursday that he spoke to the boy’s mom, who described the dismal circumstances her son is dealing with in custody. She stated her son was in a small holding space full of 40 males, most a lot older than her son.
“He’s 18 years outdated, however he’s a child. He has not been uncovered to something in his life,” Carvalho stated, recounting his dialogue with Guerrero-Cruz’s mom. “He drinks water as soon as a day. The meals is inadequate. Mother stated that there was not sufficient room for everyone to sit down or lie down on the identical time.”
Throughout their dialog, Carvalho stated, she “was having issue holding again tears. She was crying with each phrase that got here out of her mouth.”
A buddy of Guerrero-Cruz’s, recognized as Ronny C., stated in a press release that the younger man’s soccer staff was devastated by his sudden disappearance.
“On the sector, he was rock-solid—all the time confirmed up, labored onerous, and could possibly be counted on week after week. Off the sector, he was simply as dependable: type, respectful, and somebody who lifted up the folks round him. He introduced consistency, coronary heart, and a quiet power that made the staff higher in each means,” Ronny C. stated.
Guerrero-Cruz’s arrest comes amid already heightened fears amongst Los Angeles college students and oldsters over whether or not they is perhaps focused by immigration officers whereas touring to or from faculty.
An individual with data of Guerrero-Cruz’s state of affairs who declined to be named for worry of reprisal confirmed that he attended the highschool in Reseda for his junior 12 months. The individual added that lecturers are working to “be sure all college students really feel protected” regardless of the continuing raids.
Brokers have already centered enforcement efforts at LAUSD colleges a minimum of twice for the reason that Trump administration launched raids focusing on undocumented immigrants this 12 months.
In April, immigration brokers tried to enter two elementary colleges in search of details about a number of college students however had been turned away by directors.
On Monday, federal brokers reportedly drew their weapons on and handcuffed a 15-year-old boy with disabilities outdoors Arleta Excessive Faculty. Federal officers stated they had been trying to apprehend a suspected MS-13 gang member and as an alternative took the individual’s cousin by mistake. The teenager was finally launched.
Carvalho has referred to as for limits on immigration enforcement close to colleges, saying it impedes scholar studying.
“When kids witness friends, mother and father, or different people detained, the picture will not be simply erased,” Carvalho stated in a press release Monday. “These moments imprint on younger minds, distracting them from tutorial classes and changing mental curiosity with fear.”
Employees writers Melissa Gomez and Malia Mendez contributed to this report
