Texas Man Criticizes Trump Administration After Fiancee’s Arrest by ICE
A Texas resident and previous supporter of President Donald Trump has voiced criticism over an incident involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His Venezuelan fiancée was arrested at a Houston airport while traveling to a furniture convention. This incident reflects ongoing concerns about immigrants, even those married to American citizens, facing detention despite lawful entry into the U.S.
John Gannon, a 75-year-old businessman and loyal Republican, shared that he now regrets his vote for Trump in 2024. Speaking to CBS News, he expressed frustration about the detainment of his fiancée, Yasmin Suarez Reyes, 45. Gannon criticized the administration for targeting law-abiding individuals, stating, “They’re destroying families, jobs.” Suarez Reyes was apprehended at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Responding to inquiries from Newsweek, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson confirmed that Suarez Reyes had legally entered the U.S. on October 24, 2023. However, she overstayed her permitted duration, which ended on January 19, 2024. The spokesperson emphasized that pending immigration applications do not grant legal status and that Suarez Reyes will present her case before an immigration judge.
Yasmin Suarez Reyes: Background Information
Suarez Reyes entered the country legally using the Visa Waiver Program, also known as ESTA, because of her dual citizenship in Spain and Venezuela. This program allows travelers from participating countries to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days without a visa. Instead of leaving, Suarez Reyes applied for asylum in January 2024. This allowed her to secure a work permit and a Texas driver’s license during the review by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
During a trip to a furniture convention in Las Vegas with Gannon, ICE agents arrested Suarez Reyes. Gannon recounted the arrest scene: “After leaving the United room, eight ICE agents surrounded Yasmin. They detained her without explanation and took her away in a car.”
Trump Supporter’s Account and Reaction
Gannon shared his disappointment with CBS, stating if he could speak to the president, he would urge him to focus on criminals instead of families. He noted, “He’s destroying families.” With extensive business interests across the U.S. and Mexico, Gannon expressed that he would not support Trump again, given the incident.
Rising Airport Arrests and Legal Concerns
ICE has intensified operations at airports, focusing on immigrants whose legal status is ambiguous, like those with pending asylum applications. The DHS has stated that such situations provide work permits but not full legal status, leaving individuals open to detention if their original visas have expired.
Immigration lawyers and advocates have criticized these tactics, claiming that authorities are targeting compliant individuals to inflate detention figures. Currently, Suarez Reyes remains at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, pending removal proceedings.