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Edwar González, a 27-year-old resident of Puerto Peñasco, Sonora, Mexico, traveled to Mesa, Arizona, to spend the Christmas holiday with his family. He was unexpectedly detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while traveling with his brother, a legal permanent resident of the United States.
The Christmas Trip and ICE Detention
The family of the Mexican tourist, who entered the U.S. with proper documentation, expressed outrage over his arrest by ICE. According to Phoenix New Times, ICE argued González was engaged in work-related activities because he was found in his brother’s work truck.
Did You Know? Edwar González was issued a Border Crossing Card in August, allowing him to enter the U.S. with the expressed intention of returning to Mexico.
The arrest occurred in the San Tan Valley after the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office pulled over the truck due to obscured license plates and illegally tinted windows. Following the traffic stop, an ICE vehicle arrived and requested documentation from both men. González was detained for nearly three days on suspicion of “working in violation” of his tourist visa, despite his family maintaining he was simply visiting.
“My husband tried to explain to them: ‘He’s my little brother. He’s just here visiting,’” Vale, González’s sister-in-law, told Phoenix New Times. “They can’t take him. He has all this documentation.”
González was eventually released after almost three days, but ICE initially did not return all of his Mexican documentation, causing him fear of potential re-detention. Family members later discovered the documents had been retained by the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix and were able to retrieve them through that channel, according to 12 News.
“Just Wanted to Go Home”
Samantha Cooley, a relative of González and an immigration advocate, told 12 News that after his release, the 27-year-old simply wanted to return home. “It was amazing to see him, but he was in shock, like just having food and water for him. He didn’t want anything,” Cooley said. “He just wanted to go home, to Puerto Peñasco.”
Cooley expressed shock that her family had experienced this firsthand, stating, “It’s mind-blowing. I see it happen to other families all the time. I just didn’t think it would happen to my family.”
Expert Insight: This case highlights the potential for misinterpretation of circumstances by ICE officials, even when an individual possesses valid travel documentation. The presence of work tools in a vehicle, even for legitimate purposes, can be enough to trigger scrutiny and detention under current immigration enforcement practices.
Can ICE Arrest a Tourist with a Valid Visa?
According to immigration attorneys not involved in González’s case, as cited by Phoenix New Times, ICE can consider a tourist to be engaged in unauthorized employment based on the circumstances of the encounter. In such cases, immigration authorities have the power to arrest, deport, and potentially bar re-entry to the U.S. for violating the terms of their visa.
In González’s situation, the presence of ladders mounted on the truck could have led officials to believe it was a “work area.” However, his sister-in-law stated the tools were occasionally used for errands and picking up children.
González had legally entered the U.S. in September with an I-94 form, allowing him to remain in the country until the end of March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What led to Edwar González’s arrest?
Edwar González was arrested by ICE after being found in his brother’s work truck. ICE officials suspected he was engaged in unauthorized employment, though his family maintains he was simply visiting.
How long was Edwar González detained?
Edwar González was detained by ICE for almost three days before being released.
What happened to González’s documentation after his release?
ICE initially did not return all of González’s Mexican documentation, but his family was able to retrieve it from the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix.
What are your thoughts on the balance between immigration enforcement and respecting the rights of legal visitors to the United States?
