One-time DACA recipient facing deportation in S.A. released

Josue Romero, currently a second-year student at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, was arrested and is now being detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement on Tuesday Feb. 15, 2017. SAY Si shared these photos of Romero in high school. He had been involved in the program since middle school. less Josue Romero, currently a second-year student at the Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, was arrested and is now being detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement on Tuesday Feb. 15, 2017. SAY Si ... more Photo: Courtesy SAY Si Photo: Courtesy SAY Si Image 1 of / 6 Caption Close One-time DACA recipient facing deportation in S.A. released 1 / 6 Back to Gallery

Josue Romero, a 19-year-old from Honduras who had received a work permit under former President Obama’s deferred action program for young undocumented immigrants, was released Thursday evening after spending two days in custody.

Romero called his family Wednesday night to tell them he’d been arrested, his mother said. Romero was later transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, online arrest records show.

Romero came to the U.S. when he was 4 years old, said his mother, Norma Velasquez. He received a work permit under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which gives two-year reprieves from deportation to some young undocumented immigrants, and was waiting for a renewal, Velasquez said. Her son wants to be an architect.

The family came to the U.S. to escape violence and lack of economic opportunity in Honduras, she said.

“We’re afraid that they’re going to deport him because he came here when he was a very young and he doesn’t know anything about Honduras,” Velasquez said.

Bexar County records show that Romero was arrested late Tuesday for possession of two ounces or less of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor. Deferred action can be revoked for committing a “significant misdemeanor,” which in the case of drug charges usually involves allegations of trafficking or distribution.

ICE wouldn’t say why Romero was released and issued a brief statement Thursday evening.

“On Feb. 16, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer with Bexar County Jail on Josue Romero-Velasquez, from Honduras,” The agency stated. “He was later transferred to ICE custody. Romero-Velasquez was issued a final order of removal by an immigration judge Dec. 3, 2004. ICE remains focused on smart, effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes threats to national security, public safety and border security.”

President Trump last month signed an executive order that greatly expands who ICE can target for deportation, but he has not revoked the deferred action program.

Romero is an alumni of the Say Sí program that provides arts training to urban middle and high school students. Jon Hinojosa, Say Sí’s executive director, said he when he interviewed Romero to join the program nearly eight years ago, he was struck by the middle school student’s portfolio that included Lego models and detailed sketches of art pieces he wanted to create.

Romero stayed with Say Sí through high school and eventually mentored younger students, Hinojosa said.

“He’s an amazing sculptor, he’s an amazing woodworker, metalsmith, all those things he’s passionate about,” Hinojosa said.

Click here to read more about Romero

jbuch@express-news.net

Twitter: @jlbuch