Stepfather Pleads for Florida Student Detained by ICE: 'What More Do You Want?'

Federal immigration agents detained a University of Florida chemical engineering senior at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport while he waited for a flight back to campus, leaving his family fighting for his release from a Georgia detention center.

Juan Sanchez was taken into custody by federal agents at his gate last Tuesday, FOX 5 Atlanta reported, while returning to Gainesville, Florida, after visiting Chicago for a job interview with Nestle. His stepfather, Shawn, described how agents approached the student without explanation.

“They didn’t give him any indication why they were talking to him. They just simply asked if he was Juan and his last name. And, once they figured just that part out, they took him into custody. They handcuffed him,” Shawn told FOX 5 Atlanta.

Based on statements from his stepfather, Sanchez, along with his mother and sister, came to the U.S. in 2019 on a tourist visa that was later allowed to lapse. Because Sanchez was 16 years old at the time of his arrival, he began the asylum process under his mother, Shawn explained. Today, Sanchez holds a pending asylum application, possesses work authorization valid through 2030, and has no criminal record.

His family highlights his academic dedication at the University of Florida, where he manages a course load in chemical engineering.

“He is just this angel,” Shawn told FOX 5 Atlanta, adding that “he’s staying up until and I’m not exaggerating, three, 4:00 in the morning studying.”

While his loved ones make efforts to secure his return, Sanchez remains detained at the Stewart Detention Center located in Lumpkin, Georgia.

“This is a person that loves this country. He’s contributing to this country. He’s a student of one of the greatest schools in this country. He’s exceeding at every level. What more do you want?” Shawn told FOX 5 Atlanta.

Federal immigration authorities have not yet responded to requests for information regarding the specific reasons behind the arrest. A bond hearing is scheduled for next Friday, though his family notes there is no guarantee of his release.