23-07-2025
Teacher Detained by ICE After 'Overstaying Visa'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have apprehended a teacher who allegedly overstayed his visa.
Fernando Alves-Rocha, a 45-year-old citizen of Brazil, was arrested in Monroe, Washington, according to ICE Seattle.
"We are aware that one of our employees appears to have been detained by ICE," the Lake Washington School District said in a statement reported by Fox13 Seattle. "We have been in contact with the employee to provide appropriate employment documentation. Due to privacy considerations, we are limited in what we can share, but we are monitoring the situation closely."
Newsweek has contacted ICE and the school district for comment outside of office hours.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore briefing on January 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement Baltimore briefing on January 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.
Alex Brandon/AP
Why It Matters
The Trump administration is enacting plans to carry out what it calls the largest deportation operation in U.S. history as part of the Republicans' hard-line immigration agenda.
What To Know
Alves-Rocha managed the theater department at Juanita High School, per Fox13 Seattle.
He originally entered the U.S. in 2018 on a tourist visa, which he overstayed, according to a post on X by ICE Seattle.
Fernando Alves-Rocha, 45, is a citizen of Brazil arrested by @EROSeattle in Monroe, WA. Alves entered the U.S. in 2018 under a tourist visa which he overstayed, and is wanted by law enforcement authorities in Brazil for theft. He'll be detained by ICE pending removal proceedings. — ICE Seattle (@EROSeattle) July 22, 2025
His attorney, Adolfo Ojeda, told KIRO Newsradio that Alves-Rocha applied for asylum after his tourist visa expired in 2018. According to Ojeda, Alves-Rocha currently holds a valid work visa.
Alves-Rocha is also wanted by Brazilian law enforcement on theft charges, ICE Seattle said in its post.
He is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings, the post added.
What People Are Saying
Representative Suzan DelBene's office said in a statement on Tuesday, according to Fox13 Seattle: "Congresswoman DelBene is aware of the arrest of Fernando Rocha by ICE earlier this week. We have been in contact with Mr. Rocha's attorney, Lake Washington School District, and state Sen. Dhingra, and are hopeful this situation will quickly resolve itself in court. We will continue to follow the case closely. Donald Trump promised to go after the worst of the worst, but his administration's heavy-handed tactics in many cases ignore people's constitutional rights and the rule of law."
State Senator Manka Dhingra said in a statement, per Fox13 Seattle: "We wanted to make sure we are protecting people's due process rights. Given what is happening nationally about people with legal status basically being taken off our streets by masked individuals, I wanted to make sure he was connected to the right resources."
What Happens Next?
Alves-Rocha's attorney said he has a bond hearing scheduled for July 29, according to MyNorthwest.
