Venezuelan Pastor Arrested by ICE at Texas Airport Released on Bond
· Telemundo McAllen (KTLM)
HOUSTON – Pastor Luis Morales was released on bond from an immigration detention center after being arrested weeks ago by immigration authorities when he and his wife arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport to board a flight to New York. The pastor paid a $12,000 bond and will now be able to continue his asylum process while free. Morales' wife stated that after his release from detention, she sees him tired, but assured that his faith has kept him strong and optimistic during his time in custody. The pastor claims that his life changed in seconds on August 6, when he arrived at Bush Airport and suddenly heard someone call his name. He recounted that it was at that moment that his ordeal began and insists that his arrest was unjust. On the day of the arrest, Luis Alfredo Morales Pérez, 50, is the pastor of four Adventist congregations in the Houston area, primarily in Pasadena. He was detained on August 6 before passing through airport security. According to ICE, Morales entered the United States legally in 2020 but remained in the country beyond the authorized period. He later had Temporary Protected Status (TPS) until November 2025. Morales' attorney confirmed that he currently has an ongoing asylum case. ICE stated that it cannot confirm information about that process due to privacy laws, but clarified that having a pending application does not prevent a person from being detained. Morales was in custody at a detention center in Livingston, north of Houston.
AI summary · Source: Telemundo McAllen (KTLM) →
