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Newsweek
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
ICE Detains Man in US Since He Was a Teenager at Traffic Court
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. 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.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State prosecutors dismiss DUI charge against R.I. lawmaker
State Rep. Enrique Sanchez, shown during budget debates at the Rhode Island State House in 2024. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) The criminal case against a state lawmaker accused of driving under the influence in Cranston early February has been dropped. State prosecutors filed the dismissal in Providence County Superior Court Monday against Rep. Enrqiue Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, as a result of a recent guilty plea before the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal over refusing a breathalyzer test. 'As is common with first offense DUI cases, since the defendant admitted to the civil charge of refusing to submit to a chemical test at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, the state dismissed the criminal charge,' Timothy Rondeau, spokesperson for the Rhode Island Office of Attorney General, said in an emailed statement Tuesday. The filing from the AG's office, which took over prosecutorial duties in late February, also stated the prosecutors were unable to meet its burden at trial on driving under the influence 'due to factual and legal issues.' Sanchez, 28, was scheduled to appear in Providence County Superior Court Friday morning for a pre-trial conference, which has since been canceled. Neither Sanchez nor his attorney, former Rhode Island House Speaker John Harwood, immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday. The second-term lawmaker was arrested by Cranston Police on Feb. 3 after an officer spotted him behind the wheel of a 2017 Nissan Altima stopped at a green light on Reservoir Avenue at 3 a.m. Officers noticed a 'strong odor of alcohol' coming from Sanchez, who allegedly had 'bloodshot watery eyes,' according to his arrest report. Sanchez declined to take a field sobriety test and later refused a breathalyzer test. He 'admitted that he did drink,' according to his arrest report. He was arraigned in Kent County District Court and released on $1,000 personal recognizance. He was charged in traffic court with civil citations of refusing a chemical test and failure to obey traffic control devices, to which he initially pleaded not guilty. Sanchez's driver's license was temporarily suspended by the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, but he was allowed to travel to and from work under a conditional hardship license. Sanchez changed his plea March 28, and a judge ordered him to receive alcohol treatment and complete 10 hours of community service. The lawmaker must also use an Ignition Interlock System, a breathalyzer needed to start his car, for six months. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State dismisses DUI charge against Rep. Enrique Sanchez
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — State prosecutors have dismissed a misdemeanor criminal charge of driving under the influence against state Rep. Enrique Sanchez, court records show. The dismissal of the charge was first reported by The Boston Globe. The dismissal comes days after the lawmaker pleaded guilty to a traffic violation related to the drunk-driving case at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal. Sanchez, 28, pleaded guilty to refusing a breathalyzer test on Friday in exchange for prosecutors dropping one count of failing to obey traffic control devices. 'As is common with first offense DUI cases, since the defendant admitted to the civil charge of refusing to submit to a chemical test at the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal, the state dismissed the criminal charge,' Timothy Rondeau, a spokesperson for R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha's office, said in an email to Target 12. The dismissal filed on Monday in Superior Court states that in addition to the plea in traffic court, the state was 'unable to meet its burden at trial,' citing 'factual and legal issues.' Sanchez did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. His attorney, John Harwood, told Target 12: 'He wanted to put it behind him, move forward, and focus on representing the people from his district to the best of his ability.' The Providence Democrat was arrested last month and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol in Cranston. The officer who made the arrest in February said Sanchez was disoriented and smelled of alcohol. Body-worn camera footage showed Sanchez initially denied he'd been drinking, but later admitting to having some alcohol after the officer told him he smelled like booze. A few weeks after Sanchez's arrest, the case was transferred to Providence Superior Court, where he had been awaiting a formal arraignment. Sanchez was scheduled for a pre-trial conference hearing on Thursday, but that was cancelled in light of the latest developments. On Friday, court records showed that Cranston Magistrate Mark Welch ordered Sanchez's license suspended for 30 days, but it's retroactive to his arrest date, meaning it was actually reinstated. He had held a conditional license since his initial hearing, which allowed him to drive to work and the State House. Sanchez was also ordered to undergo alcohol treatment, perform 10 hours of community service, and keep an ignition interlock system for another six months pay more than $900 in court fees, according to court records. Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@ is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DUI charges against Rep. Enrique Sanchez dropped after guilty plea. What to know.
PROVIDENCE – The state has dismissed a driving-under-the- influence charge against state Rep. Enrique Sanchez just days after the second-term Providence lawmaker pleaded guilty to refusing to take a breathalyzer test. Court records indicate that state prosecutors dismissed the DUI charge Monday. On Friday, Sanchez pleaded guilty to refusing to take a breathalyzer test after being stopped for suspected drunken driving early Feb. 3 in Cranston. Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Magistrate William T. Noonan ordered the 28-year-old Democrat to undergo alcohol treatment and perform 10 hours of community service, court records indicate. He must keep the interlock system on his car for six months. He was due to appear before Superior Court Magistrate Patrick Burke Friday on the DUI charge, but the matter has now been closed. Often people charged with driving under the influence agree to plead to refusal – a civil charge – in the traffic tribunal and a DUI count is dismissed. A spokesman for the attorney general's office could not be reached immediately for comment Tuesday, but previously told The Journal that the state assumed prosecution of the case when it was transferred to Superior Court. According to the Cranston police report, an officer spotted Sanchez around 2:59 a.m. when the Nissan he was driving stopped at a red light at Reservoir Avenue and failed to move when the signal turned green. An officer approached the car and reported that Sanchez appeared 'confused." The officer wrote in the report that Sanchez "tried to hand me a red debit card" when asked for identification. Authorities said Sanchez told the officer he was coming from a friend's house in Central Falls and was on his way home to Providence. The officer told him he was going the wrong way and asked if he knew where he was. He said he missed the highway. After arriving at the police station, the report says, "he freely admitted that he takes medication, and it affects his mental health and his driving. He also admitted that he did drink and circled back to taking medications again." Sanchez broke his silence on his arrest on X a week after his arrest, but did not apologize for his actions. He reaffirmed his commitment to "representing the people who placed their trust in me to be their voice when they elected me." This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Enrique Sanchez's criminal DUI charge dropped. Here's why.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge suspends license of state rep charged with drunk driving, allows work-related travel
Democratic State Rep. Enrique Sanchez of Providence, left, is seen in the passenger seat of his attorney's Cadillac following his initial appearance before the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal on Feb. 19, 2025. Sanchez is being represented by Rep. John Lombardi, a Providence Democrat. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) CRANSTON — A state traffic court judge on Wednesday suspended the license of a Providence state legislator charged with driving while intoxicated earlier this month, but granted him the ability to travel to and from work. Rep. Enrique Sanchez, a Providence Democrat, pleaded not guilty to civil citations of refusing a chemical test and failure to obey traffic control devices in his initial appearance before Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal Judge William T. Noonan. The 28-year-old lawmaker can still operate his car, just between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m to travel to the State House and his day job at his family's Mexican food market on Atwells Avenue, under a conditional hardship license approved by Noonan. A hardship license allows drivers who have their license suspended over a DUI or refusal to submit to a chemical test to continue to drive during a court-approved 12-hour period for purposes of employment, medical appointments, job training, schooling, or religious observance. The hardship license is granted in tandem with an ignition locking device installed in a defendant's vehicle, preventing the engine from starting until the driver submits to a breathalyzer. Court records show the system was installed in Sanchez's car on Tuesday. 'Nothing unusual happened today,' Sanchez's attorney, Democratic State Rep. John J. Lombardi of Providence, said in a phone interview. 'He's got what everyone else would be afforded — a way to get back and forth to work.' Lombardi declined further comment on the traffic court violations or a misdemeanor DUI charge Sanchez faces in Kent County District Court. Noonan ordered Sanchez's license to remain suspended 'until final adjudication of this matter.' Sanchez, who was first elected to represent House District 9 in 2022, was arrested by Cranston Police on Feb. 3 after an officer spotted him behind the wheel of a 2017 Nissan Altima stopped at a green light on Reservoir Avenue at 3 a.m. Officers noticed a 'strong odor of alcohol' coming from Sanchez, who allegedly had 'bloodshot watery eyes,' according to his arrest report. Providence state representative charged with drunk driving Sanchez initially denied that he'd been drinking, instead telling police he took Adderall for his ADHD, which he said impacts his mental health and his driving. He 'admitted that he did drink' once in custody, according to his arrest report. The second-term lawmaker pleaded not guilty in Kent County Court on Feb. 3 to a charge of driving under the influence of liquor and was released on $1,000 personal recognizance. A pre-trial conference in his case is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 24, according to online court records. Sanchez is known as one of the more outspoken members of the General Assembly, but was completely silent in the week following his arrest. The lawmaker did not attend a House session on Feb. 4 and did not post on his X account. That silence was broken on Feb. 10, when Sanchez posted a thread on X where he promised he would not let his arrest interfere with his obligations to his constituents. 'This experience has given me a renewed clarity about my responsibilities — not just in this chamber, but in the trust my community has placed in me,' he wrote. 'I take that trust seriously and will continue to work hard every day of my life.' Sanchez did not speak to reporters after leaving the Traffic Tribunal with his attorney on Wednesday morning. 'My actions could have been better,' he told WPRI-12 on Feb. 11, the same day he returned to the State House for the first time since his arrest. 'I definitely had to be more aware of my surroundings.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
