Latest news with #Almanza
Newsweek
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Man With Green Card for 23 Years in Alligator Alcatraz Has Hearing Canceled
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Cuban immigrant detained and held in Florida's "Alligator Alcatraz" facility after about 25 years of legal U.S. status had his court hearing canceled last minute and without provided cause, according to his attorney. Why It Matters The abrupt cancellation of a scheduled immigration court hearing on July 23 for 31-year-old Gonzalo Almanza, a green card holder and U.S. permanent resident since 2000, ties to debate over due process, detainee treatment, and legal access at the recently opened immigration detention center in Florida's Everglades region. Almanza's case echoes broader legal struggles facing migrants and permanent residents as lawyers and civil rights groups challenge the facility's operations in court, arguing detainees are denied basic rights and access to counsel. No record currently exists for Almanza within the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) database. What To Know Almanza, who arrived in the United States at the age of 6, has been detained at the Alligator Alcatraz facility since July 11. His wife, Aschly Valdez, said Almanza was taken into custody by immigration authorities because of a past racketeering charge, despite ongoing efforts to fulfill legal obligations and restitution. "Yes, Gonzalo made a bad decision, but he's paying his restitution, he's doing everything right," Valdez said, according to NBC Miami. "It's extremely stressful, worrisome because we don't hear from him." Protesters gather to demand the closure of the immigrant detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, on July 22, 2025. Protesters gather to demand the closure of the immigrant detention center known as "Alligator Alcatraz" at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport in Ochopee, Florida, on July 22, 2025. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images "My son is asking for his dad every single day. You know it's heartbreaking," Valdez added. The couple's son was born in 2018. Almanza's immigration attorney, Anna Weiser of firm Smith & Eulo, obtained a court date for July 23, offering hope he might be granted bond. However, the hearing was canceled without notice, with a court clerk informing Weiser that the court had "no jurisdiction" in the matter—a pattern reportedly affecting other detainees from the same facility, according to NBC Miami. "She told me the hearing is not moving forward; in fact there is no hearing," Weiser said. Weiser, who has four different clients at the Alligator Alcatraz facility, told Newsweek on Tuesday via phone that there have been no new developments yet in Almanza's case. "I haven't been able to visit him ... The only way he talks to me is through this non-confidential phone line, which every two minutes or so there's a system saying that you're being recorded and monitored, so we can't really discuss the case or anything like that," she said. "I'm not able to see him for him to review documents for court, for him to sign documents. "So, this is unprecedented [to have] no access to my client, period. And he's still there." She also said that Almanza's past racketeering charge has long been "fully resolved" and that he hasn't had any further legal issues or parole violations. "He paid restitution," she said. "He was complying fully with probation. He took the plea deal, and he was just immediately transported to the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and placed into custody there." Weiser said Almanza was actually meeting with his probation officer as part of a routine check-in visit when he was detained. "He was doing everything in terms of probation," Weiser said. "He was just in the middle of his probation visit and the ICE officers came picked him up, no notice, no opportunity to say goodbye to the family or anything. And then he's been directly transported to Alligator." Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, during a Friday press conference held at Alligator Alcatraz, was asked about attorneys having access to their clients inside the facility that was rapidly constructed to house up to 400 migrants, green card holders, and non-citizens pending potential deportation. Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie was instructed by DeSantis to answer the question, stating, "We should have our first set of onsite legal representation no later than Monday." But Weiser told Newsweek that days later, she still has not received any response from the state when it comes to physically seeing Almanza. Civil rights lawyers have filed lawsuits against federal and state authorities, alleging that the facility's detainees—including lawful residents—are being held without charges, denied attorney access, and coerced into signing deportation orders. Reports indicate that more than 100 people have already been deported in this manner. State and federal officials claim improvements have been made following lawsuits, including videoconference facilities and allowing some in-person legal meetings. However, reports from legal representatives and detainees indicate ongoing barriers to routine access and hearings. Almanza and dozens of others have criticized the reported conditions inside the facility, describing them as inhumane and isolating, while his family reports limited communication with him. "I have grown men calling me and crying, it's horrific really," Weiser said. "They call me at I do take the call a lot of the time. I can't even describe [the conditions] to you, like pure torture. Like, it's just designed to wear them out." She said her clients have told her of roof leaks, constantly overflowing toilets, lights being on at all times of day, detained individuals being placed in small cages with grown adults. Cameras are installed everywhere, even directly near the toilet where "they are watched every second." What People Are Saying Eunice Cho, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, referred to an attempted temporary restraining order against Alligator Alcatraz as an "emergency situation," telling the Associated Press: "Officers at 'Alligator Alcatraz' are going around trying to force people to sign deportation orders without the ability to speak to counsel." Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, in a statement: "What's happening here is not just a policy failure, it's a moral one. The state has hastily erected a costly and deadly shadow prison in the middle of the Everglades during hurricane season to warehouse human beings—stripping them of due process and dignity, cutting them off from their families and legal counsel, intentionally putting their lives in danger, and leaving them to suffer in silence. This is how rights are erased." What Happens Next U.S. District Judge Rodolfo Ruiz has scheduled an in-person hearing for August 18, seeking more information on due process, attorney access, and the jurisdictional authority pertaining to the detentions. The hearing will examine access to counsel, canceled bond hearings, and the legal status of detainees at Alligator Alcatraz. The outcomes could set legal precedents for immigrant detention policies nationwide.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
UPS driver arrested in package thefts after empty box deliveries in Horizon City
A UPS driver has been arrested for allegedly stealing packages that were to be delivered in Horizon City, police officials said. Suspicions had been growing since February in the El Paso suburb when several residents started reporting empty UPS packages delivered to their homes, Horizon City Police Department officials said. More: Horizon City man dies after motorcycle collision on Vista Del Sol Drive in El Paso County The UPS driver, Jason M. Zubia, 44, and an alleged accomplice, Monica Almanza, 46, both of El Paso, were arrested on felony charges of theft over $30,000 after stolen items were recovered at home in El Paso by Horizon City police detectives in an investigation assisted by the UPS security team, police officials said. The total number of packages that were stolen was being counted as an investigation continues. Detectives suspect there could be additional victims in Horizon City and the surrounding area who received empty packages or never received a package but did not file a police report. Horizon City residents who may have been victims of the UPS package thefts may contact Horizon City police Sgt. L. Rodriguez at 915-852-1047. Zubia and Almanza were each arrested on charges of theft over $30,000, possession of a controlled substance and possession of more than four ounces of marijuana. No attorney was listed for them on court records. El Paso County Jail records show that Zubia was booked into jail on Tuesday, March 25, and released the next day on a total surety bond of $100,000. Almanza was booked and released on a $35,000 total surety bond on Wednesday via Fast Track Booking, a program that allows for a quick release if a person surrenders and has bail arrangements prepared. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division identified Zubia as "the main suspect responsible for the thefts." The investigation looked into numerous complaints to Horizon City police about the delivery of empty packages, along with complaints about packages never delivered at all, a police news release stated. During the investigation, detectives served a search warrant at a home in the 3000 block of Gaston Drive in the Pebble Hills area of East El Paso, police said. Growth and development: El Paso's Hunt Companies starts work on 2,400-homes community in Horizon City Detectives found stolen delivery boxes with Horizon City addresses that were still sealed, as well as opened and discarded boxes with Horizon City addresses and drugs, officials said. Horizon City Police Chief Marco Vargas praised the diligent work of investigators and thanked the local UPS security team for its assistance. 'We are dedicated to providing high-quality police work to ensure our residents are not victimized by criminal activity," Vargas said in a statement. "This case highlights our officers' commitment to holding offenders accountable and protecting our community." Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@ and @BorundaDaniel on X. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: UPS driver arrested in package thefts after empty box deliveries
USA Today
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Exclusive: Jalen Williams talks 2025 March Madness AT&T commercial, Lu Dort's DPOY case
Exclusive: Jalen Williams talks 2025 March Madness AT&T commercial, Lu Dort's DPOY case As schools across the country enjoy spring break, the basketball world shifts its attention to college basketball. After all, March Madness is synonymous with this time of the year as the temperature gets warmer and the days get longer. The NCAA Tournament will kick off this week. 68 teams will try to capture a national championship during the month-long bracket. Like last year, AT&T will air a commercial featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jalen Williams joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren in their latest AT&T commercial that'll air through March Madness. The Thunder's trio have skyrocketed to the top of the West standings and will enter the NBA playoffs as a title contender. To talk about their new TV ad, Williams talked with Thunder Wire about his AT&T commercial debut, the behind-the-scenes of it and why he thinks Lu Dort should get Defensive Player of the Year. This interview was lightly edited for clarity and brevity: Almanza: How did the AT&T commercial with Shai and Chet come to be? Williams: "You're in Oklahoma, so you would know but last year, just having them do a little song and stuff went viral during March Madness. They both played in it. Obviously, a no-brainer. I get to do my first commercial shoot. Being able to do it with my teammates was really dope. "As you know, it's AT&T and March Madness, you get the upsets of March Madness and all that stuff. Just like the brackets and all that stuff. I've been with AT&T. I've used it as my phone plan before I even did this deal. Being with AT&T, somebody I trusted for a long time with my phones and as much as I like to travel, having their background with me. It was a cool all-in-one, three-for-one kinda thing." Almanza: Whose idea was it to add you to this year's commercial? Williams: "I guess it was a little bit of Shai and Chet. AT&T hit me up too. It was a group effort. Everybody decided it'd be cool if I was in it. Like I said, it was pretty easy for me to say yes." Almanza: Was it your guys' idea to have the commercial be all three of you dressed the same? Williams: "Shai had a little say in what he wanted to do. The dress the same thing was part of the script so shoutout to AT&T for that. We all kinda had our own little touch to what we had for our wardrobe. You see me wearing the sideways hat, you see Chet wearing his glasses and his hat a different way, Shai no hat and white pants. We still wanted to match and obviously we wore the same kinda top. I thought that was a pretty funny spin where last year's they were singing the jingle." Almanza: Was there any consideration of doing another jingle this year? Williams: "That I don't know. I'm kinda happy they didn't. I think it's cool that Shai and Chet did their own thing and then we had a cool little spinoff of something else. It gives us room if we ever did another one to play with other things and kinda revisit it again." Almanza: You mentioned this was your first commercial. What was that like being in that acting environment? Williams: "It was really cool. I've done stuff that was close to it. I did the Buffalo Wild Wings, which was kinda like an Instagram thing and TikTok. It was more on the social media side. This one being a main TV one was really cool. I feel like there were a lot more cameras for this one. A lot more takes. AT&T made is really, really easy." Almanza: Have you filled out your bracket yet or have any thoughts on the NCAA Tournament? Williams: "I need to fill out my brackets. I'm excited to see the Women's one as well. I have USC doing very well. Kinda waiting for the status of Cooper Flagg a little bit to see where I want to put Duke at. That's what's holding me up a little bit." Almanza: Kinda related back to the Thunder, you've vouched for Lu Dort to win DPOY. What would your case be for him if you had the chance to talk to the voters? Williams: "For somebody that's never been on a Defensive Team, it's already doing him an injustice being that every year he's had to guard the best player on every single team every single night and done a terrific job doing it. That in itself is already extremely difficult. "There's no nights off. He goes from Damian Lillard, Steph Curry to De'Aaron Fox. I feel like fans may throw away the fact that you may play a team that's not doing so well. But then if you throw in like, he'll have to play LaMelo Ball and he'll play another team where he has to switch his gears a little bit and has to guard LeBron. The amount of people he has to guard on a regular basis is very insane. I don't think anybody else in the NBA is doing that." Almanza: You guys have the best defense when looking at most stats. With the All-Defensive Teams, how much are you guys vying to fill up as many of those 10 spots as possible? Williams: "I think Lu should be on there. I definitely think myself should be on there. The range of people I have to guard too is kinda the same argument for Lu. We're not too concerned about getting awards. I think Lu stands out because he's never been on an All-Defensive Team and every year, he has to guard the level of players he has to guard and he does a really good job at it. If you ask any player around the NBA, they bring his name up. "I think he should definitely be on an All-Defensive Team. But it's not something everybody focuses on. We have guys like Cason Wallace. I don't know if Alex Caruso has played enough games to do it but AC's been on the First and Second Team in his career a couple of times. Isaiah Hartenstein but I don't know if he can be on there. The range of defenders we have is great. Shai is going to be in consideration for it. He's top three in steals and for guards, he's something up there with the blocks. I know me and Caso are in the steals category too. Hopefully, we can clear the board and throw five or six guys up there, which I doubt will happen."
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Cal State Long Beach athletics staffers stole thousands from school, D.A. says
Two former members of the Cal State Long Beach athletics department are accused of stealing thousands of taxpayer dollars from the university by submitting false time sheets and splitting the profits, authorities said. Oscar Perez Almanza, 38, and Hender Noe Maxwell, 38, were each charged with one felony count of conspiracy to commit grand theft and one felony count of grand theft, L.A. County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman announced Monday. They both pleaded not guilty. The pair are accused of running a payroll fraud scheme in 2022 when Almanza was working as a field supervisor in the athletics department and Maxwell had left a position as grounds worker. Prosecutors say Maxwell submitted false time sheets, billing the university for hundreds of hours of work, which Almanza then approved even though he knew Maxwell was no longer employed by the school. The pair allegedly stole $36,560 from the university via this scheme and split the profits. 'I am appalled at the brazen acts of criminality allegedly committed by employees of California State University, Long Beach, an institution that depends on public funding and public trust,' Hochman said in a statement. 'Stealing from California's venerated public university system steals from taxpayers and the thousands of students who rely on the university for affordable tuition and educational and career opportunities." The duo face enhancements to their charges for allegations that the offenses indicated planning, sophistication, professionalism and a theft of great monetary value, according to the district attorney's office. Read more: Inside the mysterious slaying of a Hollywood pimp with Russian mob tattoos If convicted as charged, they each face a maximum sentence of three years in county jail. Almanza and Maxwell were arraigned Monday and released on the condition that they relinquish their passports. They are due back in court April 14. This case was investigated by the CSULB Police Department. "We appreciate our University Police for their initial investigation and the district attorney's office for pursuing this matter," Jim Milbury, Cal State Long Beach director of news media services, told The Times. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
