ICE Detains Man in US Since He Was a Teenager at Traffic Court
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Pablo Grave de la Cruz, a longtime U.S. resident, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers outside the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in June, according to his partner Samuel Spadavecchia.
Newsweek has reached out to ICE via email and contacted Spadavecchia on LinkedIn for comment on Friday.
Why It Matters
Grave de la Cruz's detention comes as President Donald Trump has pledged to launch the largest mass deportation operation in U.S. history. Immigrants residing in the country illegally and legally, with valid documentation such as green cards and visas, have been detained.
The initiative has seen an intensification of ICE raids across the country as well as reports of people being arrested at immigration appointments.
What To Know
On June 17, Grave de la Cruz was taken into ICE custody after exiting the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston, according to his partner and a GoFundMe created on his behalf.
He was at the traffic court for a civil traffic violation following a recent crash. His partner said that Grave de la Cruz passed a field sobriety test but refused a breathalyzer test. Refusing to take a chemical test in Rhode Island may result in a temporarily suspended license, fine, public community service, a course on driving while intoxicated and/or referral to an alcohol treatment program, according to the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Local outlet The Valley Breeze reported that his pending DUI charge was dropped on June 17.
According to the online fundraiser, he was reportedly first held at the Wyatt Detention Center prior to being relocated to Texas. Newsweek has confirmed in the ICE detainee database that Grave de la Cruz is being held in El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas.
Grave de la Cruz has been living in Rhode Island for nearly two decades, working a variety of jobs in the state's hospitality industry. Spadavecchia confirmed that his partner came to the U.S. as a 16-year-old without legal status and has been in the process of waiting for visa approval since the two married nearly 10 years ago, in 2016.
ICE Boston spokesperson James Covington told 12 News that Grave de la Cruz is "an illegally present Guatemalan alien" with prior DUI convictions and a motor offense.
Grave de la Cruz is from Guatemala, which Spadavecchia classified as "super homophobic" to The Valley Breeze. He said that "being gay, it's one of the biggest problems," adding that the country was not safe for Grave de la Cruz before he left.
Inset: Pablo Grave de la Cruz as featured on a GoFundMe campaign on his behalf. The El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas, is seen on May 1.
Inset: Pablo Grave de la Cruz as featured on a GoFundMe campaign on his behalf. The El Valle Detention Center in Raymondville, Texas, is seen on May 1.
GoFundMe/AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez
What People Are Saying
ICE Boston spokesperson James Covington told 12 News regarding Grave de la Cruz: "Allowing this alien offender to remain on the streets of Rhode Island only places the safety of our neighbors in jeopardy. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders."
A GoFundMe set up on Grave de la Cruz's behalf states: "Pablo has lived in Rhode Island for 19 years, more than half of his life. He is a beloved member of the hospitality community, working in the top restaurants in the state, including many years at Los Andes and most recently as a server at the prestigious Capital Grille, which he is very proud of. He has been married to his partner Sam for 9 years this September. Pablo has been a hard working taxpayer all these years while waiting for his marriage visa to be approved."
What Happens Next?
Spadavecchia told The Valley Breeze that he speaks with his partner via daily video chats as they work to determine their next steps. Spadavecchia added that his partner may decide to voluntarily self deport.
As of Friday, the fundraiser had brought in more than $27,000 from nearly 400 donations.
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