ICE Detained Hispanic Man Just Days After the Birth of His Daughter
Tomás Salas Zaragoza was detained by ICE days after the birth of his daughter; learn the full story and the impact on his family.
Posted on 10/09/2025 at 15:40
- Tomás Salas Zaragoza: Family Denounces Inhumane Conditions
- Detained After Daughter’s Birth
- Case Still Under Appeal
The wife of an immigrant in federal custody denounced that her husband was arrested by immigration agents in Alabama just days after the birth of their daughter.
The case takes place within the broader deportation operations pushed by the administration of President Donald Trump, who has reiterated his intention to carry out what he describes as the largest deportation operation in U.S. history.
The Story of Tomás Salas Zaragoza
Why It Matters
The arrests are not limited to undocumented people.
According to Newsweek, immigrants with valid documents have also been detained, including applicants for permanent residence and visa holders.
Even individuals who overstayed their visas or failed to renew their permits have been detained during the operations.
In this context is the case of Tomás Salas Zaragoza, 43, a construction worker, who was arrested on October 27, 2024, in Duncanville, Alabama.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that he faces charges of third-degree assault, obstruction of justice, and resisting arrest.
After being released from the Tuscaloosa County Jail, he was handed over to ICE agents and transferred to different facilities, currently being held at the detention center in Jena, Louisiana.
His wife, Juana Gutiérrez, stressed that he entered the U.S. in 2011 with an H-2B work visa that he never renewed, but emphasized that “he had no criminal record before the incident.”
What Tomás Salas Zaragoza’s Family Says
The complaints about conditions in the detention center have been strong.
Gutiérrez stated that immigrants “are kept in overcrowded rooms, with limited access to working bathrooms and showers, poor quality food, and difficulties in contacting their families.”
The wife admitted feeling “overwhelmed and scared” about what they are going through.
She claimed that during the arrest, “three men pounced on Tomás, electrocuted him with a Taser, pinned him to the ground, handcuffed him, and then beat him repeatedly on the head, back, and kidneys.”
In a post on Change.org, the family lamented the emotional toll of the separation:
“The worst thing for Tomás is not being able to be there for his daughter and missing the first year of her life. For Tomás, it is heartbreaking to see your daughter through a video screen reaching out her arms for you to hold her, and as much as you want to be there to hug her, you can’t.”
Tomás Salas Zaragoza’s father, who depends on dialysis, holds out hope of seeing him again, while his stepmother has taken charge of his care and medical appointments.
The Authorities’ Official Position
A DHS spokesperson defended the actions, stating that the government prioritizes “the worst criminal illegal immigrants, including murderers, rapists, gang members, pedophiles, and terrorists across the country.”
He added that under the current immigration policy, “no place is a safe haven for criminal illegal immigrants.
If you come to our country illegally and break our laws, we will hunt you down, arrest you, deport you, and you will never come back.”
However, for Tomás Salas Zaragoza’s family, the situation feels like “a lost cause.” The wife reiterated that her struggle now is to provide for her newborn daughter while awaiting a resolution in the case.
What Comes Next
Zaragoza’s legal process remains under appeal, but he will remain in ICE custody while deportation proceedings continue.
The case of Tomás Salas Zaragoza reflects the tensions faced by many migrant families in the United States, caught between federal deportation policies and the uncertainty of their future.
RELATED: Hispanic Father Never Thought He’d End Up Dead by Police; His Family Seeks Support for His Children
While his wife and daughter await a resolution, the story opens a debate about the human impact behind immigration statistics and ICE operations.
Do you think U.S. deportation policies should prioritize only those with serious criminal records, or should they apply without exception to all immigrants without valid documents?
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