Florida Grandfather and Former Venezuelan Army Major Faces Immigration Proceedings

Federal immigration authorities have detained Henry Morales Hernandez, a Florida grandfather and former Venezuelan army major, who sought asylum in the United States after fleeing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime, according to family members.

Detention Following a Traffic Stop

Since May, Morales Hernandez, 55, has been held in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody due to a traffic stop in Collier County, Florida, the previous month. Prosecutors from Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit dropped a DUI criminal charge against him last month. They cited insufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Impact of Increased Immigration Enforcement

The Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement, leading to a spike in arrests and detentions nationwide under a policy focusing on mass deportation. The administration has tightened legal pathways for migrants, including Venezuelans, who face narrowed protections.

Disputed Circumstances of Detention

Esmeralda San Andres Morales, Morales Hernandez’s wife and an American citizen, disputed the arrest circumstances. She told Newsweek that he drank only a small amount of alcohol and was not impaired. She stated a breath test showed a blood alcohol level around 0.03 and claimed he had no prior criminal record.

Breath Test Results

A booking report from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office listed Morales Hernandez’s breath tests as 0.036 and 0.037, below Florida’s DUI legal limit of 0.08. State law, however, permits charges based on observed impairment.

Arrival in the United States

According to ICE, Morales Hernandez entered the U.S. via Miami on a tourist visa and has lived there since 2021. He has an active asylum case. Before arriving in the U.S., he lived in Argentina for over a decade. He served in the Venezuelan military from 1993 to 2008 and achieved the rank of major.

During his military service in Venezuela, he participated in counterinsurgency operations near the Colombian border and was injured in a 1997 confrontation with armed groups linked to Colombian insurgencies. Morales Hernandez later engaged in roles opposing Hugo Chávez’s government, fearing retaliation.

Migrating to Argentina, he maintained connections with Venezuelan opposition communities abroad, eventually traveling to the United States to seek asylum.

Fears of Deportation

Morales Hernandez’s wife expressed fear of deportation, calling it a death sentence. An immigration judge denied him bond in May, relying on the arrest report despite the dismissal of his criminal case.

Temporary Protected Status in Question

Morales Hernandez previously held Temporary Protected Status (TPS), enabling nationals from certain countries to stay in the U.S. due to conflict or instability. In 2021, Venezuela received TPS designation amid political and economic turmoil under Maduro. This allowed Venezuelans temporary legal protection and work authorization.

Under Trump, the administration sought to terminate TPS for Venezuelans in 2025, implying conditions no longer justified the designation. This created legal challenges and uncertainty for TPS holders.

In May 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court permitted the administration to end TPS for many Venezuelans, while ongoing litigation continues. Some individuals remain covered under limited court protections.

Familial Hardship and Support

Esmeralda San Andres Morales described the detention as financially and emotionally devastating, with Morales Hernandez being the family’s primary income source.

Morales Hernandez is currently held at Glades County Detention Center, transferred among facilities. Support letters sent to immigration court by family members illustrated his role as a caretaker.

His stepson, Isaiah Acevedo, an active-duty U.S. Army noncommissioned officer, emphasized the positive influence Morales Hernandez had on his life, inspiring him to excel in the military.

Stepdaughter Izandria Zabala credited Morales Hernandez with integrity and responsibility, stating his absence would affect those dependent on him emotionally and financially. Imani Acevedo, another stepdaughter, appreciated Morales Hernandez for treating her children as his grandchildren.

Morales Hernandez’s immigration case proceeds, with a hearing scheduled later this month, according to family members.