A married couple serving as pastors in Texas were detained by federal immigration officers while travelling to a Billy Graham Evangelistic Association retreat in North Carolina, despite supporters insisting they were legally authorised to remain in the United States.
Assistant pastors Cinthia Sarai Cardona Otero and Nepthali Zozaya Saucedo were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on 23rd and 24th July respectively, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
The pair serve at Comunidad Cristiana Emanuel, an Assemblies of God church in Edinburg, Texas.
According to Religion News Service (RNS), a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the Mexican nationals had overstayed religious worker visas that expired in 2022.
However, supporters of the couple dispute that account.
"Pastors Nepthali and Cinthia are religious visa holders who have been awaiting adjudication of their applications for lawful permanent residence," said Merelda Bazan Gonzalez, a board member of the Latino Christian National Network. "Both have already received approval of their religious visa petition and are currently awaiting adjustment of status. Both have work authorization."
Cardona also insisted that she and her husband had documentation with them proving their immigration status when they arrived at the airport.
"Our intention — from the moment God brought us to this country — has been to honor him and obey the laws," she said at a press conference, according to Christianity Today.
The couple were released on 25th July after spending two days in custody, following intervention from Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar.
According to Border Report, they were placed into ICE's "Alternatives to Detention" programme, which allows immigrants to remain in their communities while immigration proceedings continue. The scheme requires participants to check in with ICE by telephone each month and report in person after six months.
Speaking to reporters from detention before their release, Zozaya alleged that immigration officials had pressured him and his wife to sign voluntary deportation papers, RNS reported.
The couple claimed they were warned they could face prolonged detention, be separated from their three young children and deported individually to countries other than Mexico if they refused.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson denied the allegations:
"It is categorically false we would pressure someone to self-deport. The Trump administration is utilizing all lawful options to carry out the largest deportation operation in history, just as President Trump promised."
Although the couple initially signed the paperwork, they later formally withdrew their signatures.
Cardona also alleged she was mocked for her Christian faith during a 2 a.m. interview with immigration officials.
"'The first time I went up to an agent, for a moment I felt peace because (they) began to mention the Bible to me, but then (they) began to mock me, because (they) said, 'You Christians think that you can put God before everything and disobey the laws,'" she said.
Cuellar criticised the detention of the pastors, saying immigration authorities should focus on dangerous offenders rather than religious leaders.
"They are going for low-hanging fruit (by targeting) religious folks. I don’t believe in abolishing ICE, but I believe in having safeguards and focusing on criminals, not pastors," he said.
The couple's case has drawn support from several Christian organisations, including Border Perspective, Conexión Pastoral, the Connected Americans Initiative and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
The incident follows the detention of Nigerian-born Catholic nun Sister Leticia Ugboaja, known as Sister Letty, who was arrested by ICE while walking to Mass in McAllen, Texas, on 28th June. Although she was released shortly afterwards, she continues to face deportation proceedings.
Following her release, Bishop Daniel E. Flores of the Diocese of Brownsville said: "Sister Letty is a well-known source of goodness and hope in our community, and I am grateful she has been released."
He added: "There are many questions remaining about the circumstances surrounding Sister Letty’s arrest and detention. For now, it is clear that Homeland Security enforcement protocols that make it possible for a religious sister, or anyone, to be detained and handcuffed while peacefully walking to church on a Sunday morning are wildly disturbing and need to be reformed."
