Congressman Vicente Gonzalez Urges Release of South Texas DACA Recipients in ICE Detention

Contact: Alexis Torres

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) urged President Donald J. Trump and his Administration to immediately release detained Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who are in the process of renewing their status, including constituents of the 34^th Congressional District of Texas, Mr. Juan Sebastian Chavez Velasco and Mr. Jahasiel Pena Enriquez. 

“Over the last year, we have seen a growing pattern by this Administration to unjustly operate outside the norms of the law and take a rogue approach towards immigration enforcement,” wrote Congressman Gonzalez. “For example, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients are facing growing delays in renewal processing, resulting in a lapse of their protections status after years of timely compliance, which ultimately presents an opportunity for immigration officials to detain them. These individuals are our friends, family, and neighbors who hold work authorization, contribute to our communities, strive to build stable lives, and have often lived in our country much longer than their nation of origin. Therefore, I am asking for the immediate release of DACA constituents that have been detained and are going through their application renewal or ongoing immigration processes.”

Congressman Gonzalez continued, “Recently, we saw the Gamez-Cuellar family detained for going to their immigration appointment, a routine part of the process, as they await a decision on their asylum case. Just like them, Mr. Juan Sebastian Chavez and Mr. Jahasiel Pena Enriquez were waiting for their DACA renewal when they were detained. South Texans believe in the rule of law, but we also believe our immigration policy should be rooted in fairness, dignity, and common sense. These individuals and so many others have contributed to our community and demonstrated a willingness to follow our country’s legal processes. I therefore call on you to exercise prosecutorial discretion to ensure the prompt release of Juan Sebastian Chavez and Jahasiel Pena Enriquez.”

Juan Sebastian Chavez Velasco had an active DACA status at the time of his apprehension on February 18, 2026. Mr. Chavez initially submitted his application for DACA renewal in November, as was requested of him. He was targeted and arrested by ICE in Weslaco, Texas, on the way to deliver milk to his premature, 12-day-old daughter. Mr. Chavez’s protections expired on March 10, 2026, while in detention.

Jahasiel Pena Enriquez, the sole provider of his family, has been a DACA recipient since the program’s inception in 2012. For over 14 years, he has promptly maintained active status. On November 21, 2025, he submitted a renewal application, well before his February 13, 2026, expiration date. However, on January 29, 2026, immigration enforcement officers detained Mr. Pena Enriquez while he was driving home. 

These are not the first cases of DACA recipients being unlawfully targeted and detained—instead it represents an alarming trend of the current Administration’s abuse of power. Earlier today, a federal judge ordered for the return of a deported DACA recipient within the next seven days, ruling that the deportation of Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez was a “flagrant violation” of her DACA protections and that she has a right to live in the United States without fear of removal.

Read Congressman Gonzalez’s full letter here.