Universal Epic Universe Performers Arrested by ICE in Phoenix

Universal Epic Universe Performers Arrested by ICE in Phoenix

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Two performers at Universal’s Epic Universe, Agustin Baccega and Gustavo Romanello, were taken into federal custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026.

The couple had traveled to Arizona to attend a friend’s funeral when they were intercepted by plainclothes officers.

The arrest has rippled through the acrobatics and theme park communities in both Orlando and Phoenix, leaving friends and colleagues scrambling to organize legal support. The pair, who moved to the United States from Argentina in 2020, were detained while on the phone with a friend, Jonathan Batchelor, who was attempting to assist them as officers questioned the couple.

“They started asking him questions, and then one of them said, ‘Do you have another pair of cuffs? There’s another one,’” Batchelor said. The arrest marks a jarring turn for two performers who had built stable professional lives, with Baccega working for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and Romanello, a recent graduate of Full Sail University, performing as a contracted stunt artist at Universal.

While friends emphasize that the couple holds work permits valid until 2029 and has been active in their respective communities, federal authorities maintain the action was a routine enforcement matter. An ICE spokesperson confirmed to the Orlando Sentinel that the arrests were part of a “targeted enforcement action,” citing that both men had overstayed their visas after they expired in 2021.

Universal Epic Universe Performers Arrested by ICE in Phoenix

The Legal Reality of Work Permits

The situation highlights a common point of confusion regarding immigration status and employment authorization. The ICE statement clarified that possessing a work permit does not equate to legal immigration status or serve as a shield against removal proceedings. This distinction has left many in the couple’s circle struggling to understand how performers with active, government-sanctioned work authorization could be detained so abruptly.

The couple is currently being held in separate facilities: Baccega at the Eloy Detention Center and Romanello at the Florence Service Processing Center, located about 25 miles apart. Friends report that the pair is in high-stress, overcrowded conditions.

As of Wednesday, their legal team had not yet filed habeas corpus cases in the District of Arizona, a legal mechanism being used by many other detainees across the country to challenge their detention in federal courts.

These arrests occur as federal immigration enforcement increases. Thousands of individuals with no criminal records have been taken into custody as part of a mass deportation campaign throughout President Donald Trump’s second term.

While the government asserts its authority to process these cases, the sheer volume of detainees has led to a backlog of legal challenges, with federal judges regularly weighing in on the rights of those held without bond hearings.

Colleagues Mourn the Loss of Skilled Entertainers

The professional void left by the arrests is significant. Colleagues describe the pair as integral to the magic of the theme park experience. Alexa Neilen, a coworker on the “The Untrainable Dragon” show, noted the specific, highly skilled nature of their work.

“They are light, they are joy, they are the epitome of Universal Orlando entertainment,” Neilen said. “They provide the eye contact, that love, that special moment. Not only are they great people, they’re great coaches and mentors.”

Universal Orlando did not reply to a message seeking comment. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign to cover the couple's mounting legal costs has raised nearly $38,000, showing how much the public supports the two performers. Friends are also working to contact federal representatives, including U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, to bring attention to the case.

For now, the couple remains in custody, waiting for their next steps in immigration court. Their supporters are focused on the immediate task of securing legal representation and providing comfort to the families back in Argentina.

“They’re hanging in there,” Neilen said, speaking of her recent contact with the couple. “They’re terrified, they’re in a horrible place in a cold, desolate room with hundreds of people just crowded in, and they’re hanging on as much as they can.”

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