ICE Arrests Mexican Pastor Couple with U.S. Citizen Children in Texas

A Mexican Christian pastor couple, Nepthalí Zozaya Saucedo and Cinthia Saraí Cardona Otero, along with their three U.S. citizen children, were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. The incident occurred as the family was traveling from the McAllen airport, near the Mexican border, to a spiritual retreat.

Religious organizations have voiced strong condemnation of the arrest. Leaders from the National Latino Christian Leadership Conference (LCNN) reported that immigration officers allegedly pressured the couple to sign voluntary departure documents by threatening to separate them from their children. "We are deeply disturbed by reports that ICE threatened to separate them from their children if they did not sign voluntary departure documents. No parent should ever be pressured to give up their rights under the threat of losing their children," stated Sandy Ovalle, a member of the LCNN board.

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We are deeply disturbed by reports that ICE threatened to separate them from their children if they did not sign voluntary departure documents. No parent should ever be pressured to give up their rights under the threat of losing their children.

ICE's database confirms that both individuals are in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Colleagues of the couple stated they have been serving for over a decade in Texas on religious visas at the Community of Emmanuel Christian Church, part of the Assemblies of God. Advocates are urging immigration authorities to show compassion, respect their due process rights, and release them immediately so the family can be reunited.

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We urge immigration authorities to show compassion, respect their due process rights, and release them immediately so this family can be reunited.