'Don't be like Yasmin': US makes an example out of Venezuelan woman arrested by ICE, says you are illegal if...

U.S. immigration authorities have arrested Yasmin Suarez Reyes, a 45-year-old Venezuelan citizen and Spanish national, for overstaying her visa by more than two years, making an example of her to deter others. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning, stating, "A pending immigration application does NOT confer legal status. ICE arrested Yasmin Suarez Reyes, an illegal alien from Venezuela, after she overstayed her lawful admission to the U.S. by OVER 2 YEARS. Don’t be like Yasmin, take advantage of our CBP Home offer and get $2,600 AND a FREE flight home."

Suarez Reyes entered the U.S. legally in October 2023 under the Visa Waiver Program, which allows citizens of Spain to enter as tourists for up to 90 days without a visa. She applied for asylum in January 2024 before her authorized stay expired. While her asylum case was pending, she obtained a work permit and a Texas driver's license. Her fiancé, 75-year-old Texas businessman John Gannon, expressed regret for voting for President Donald Trump, stating that such arrests "destroy families." Gannon, who owns numerous billboards and businesses in Mexico, argued that authorities should focus on criminals rather than "mom and pops and the kids."

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They are picking up law-abiding citizens. They're destroying families, jobs. Go after the criminals. We're all for that. But leave the mom and pops and the kids alone. Man, he's destroying families.

Gannon recounted that Suarez Reyes was arrested by plainclothes agents at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport as they were preparing to travel to Las Vegas. The DHS's public statement highlights the precariousness of individuals with pending immigration applications, emphasizing that they are still subject to arrest and deportation if they violate the terms of their admission. The agency's message aims to discourage others from making similar mistakes, offering financial incentives and a free flight home for those who voluntarily depart.

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A pending immigration application does NOT confer legal status. ICE arrested Yasmin Suarez Reyes, an illegal alien from Venezuela, after she overstayed her lawful admission to the U.S. by OVER 2 YEARS. Don’t be like Yasmin, take advantage of our CBP Home offer and get $2,600 AND a FREE flight home.