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Honeymoon trip ends with migrant's arrest after trying to greet Trump

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A Venezuelan migrant, Bryan José Rojas Galofre, was arrested in Miami after attempting to greet former U.S. President Donald Trump.
  • The incident occurred during his honeymoon in January 2025, leading to over three months of detention and significant debt.
  • Rojas Galofre, an asylum seeker, faces ongoing legal and economic instability after his work permit and driver's license were not renewed.

A honeymoon trip intended as a surprise for his wife turned into a nightmare for Venezuelan migrant Bryan José Rojas Galofre, resulting in his arrest and over three months of detention in Miami. Galofre, 33, and his American wife, Socorro Zaragosa, traveled from Wisconsin to South Florida in January 2025 to celebrate their fourth month of marriage.

It was more about the hotel issues, to surprise her for our honeymoon. And since the president was there, for me it was just going to be to greet him.

— Bryan José Rojas GalofreExplaining his motivation for approaching the Trump National Doral Miami.

Galofre planned the trip, including a stay at the Trump National Doral Miami resort, partly due to his wife's political affinity for the Republican president. Learning that Trump would be inaugurating the annual retreat for Republican lawmakers at the resort on January 27, Galofre decided to approach the facility. His intention, he stated, was simply to greet the president, viewing it as an opportunity related to their hotel stay.

However, Galofre, an asylum seeker residing in Plover, Wisconsin, and a father of two U.S.-born children, failed to anticipate the federal security protocols surrounding the presidential entourage. He believed his wife's U.S. citizenship would ensure no issues. Instead, security forces intercepted them before they could enter the resort perimeter, leading to Galofre's arrest.

You are a citizen, you will not have any problems.

— Bryan José Rojas GalofreRecounting what he told his wife about the potential encounter with Trump.

The administrative procedure resulted in Galofre's transfer to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, where he remained for over 90 days while his lawyers worked on his release. Since his freedom, Galofre has experienced legal and economic instability. His work permit and driver's license have not been renewed, and the family has depleted their funds, sold property, and incurred debts exceeding $80,000 to cover legal fees and bail costs. He described his situation as a "migratory limbo."

I am in a migratory limbo that I wouldn't wish on anyone. I don't know how many people are like this, who have paid a bond, have spent time under review, who don't have...

— Bryan José Rojas GalofreDescribing his current uncertain legal and financial situation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.