San Antonio student activist under investigation by FBI now in detention, facing deportation

Sergio Salazar, 18, checks out his camera in this undated photo. Salazar, a student activist known as "Mapache," was arrested Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, in San Antonio by federal agents on an alleged immigration violation after his request for DACA status renewal was denied. He and his supporters say he was targeted in retaliation for calling for the elimination of ICE and protesting the Trump Administration's immigration policy. ICE officials deny that claim. less Sergio Salazar, 18, checks out his camera in this undated photo. Salazar, a student activist known as "Mapache," was arrested Friday, Aug. 3, 2018, in San Antonio by federal agents on an alleged immigration ... more Photo: Courtesy Photo: Courtesy Image 1 of / 59 Caption Close San Antonio student activist under investigation by FBI now in detention, facing deportation 1 / 59 Back to Gallery

A DACA student who has been protesting outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on the North Side is now in federal custody facing deportation, either a victim of retaliation for speaking his mind or a violator of immigration law accused of making threats against law enforcement.

Sergio “Mapache” Salazar, 18, is being painted by his lawyers and supporters as coming under attack from federal agents because he’s calling for the elimination of ICE, the federal agency that has been a lightning rod over the Trump Administration’s crackdown on immigrants that included the now-abandoned practice of separating undocumented parents from their children at the border.

But federal officials say he was arrested Friday for violating federal immigration law — an application to renew his temporary legal status was denied the day before — and sources confirmed Salazar’s name is on an FBI database of potential threats.

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Salazar was born in Mexico and has been here since he was 2. He has been living legally in the United States as a recipient of temporary legal immigration status under the controversial Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative. The advocacy organization RAICES had filed for a renewal of his DACA status.

In a news release, RAICES, whose lawyers are representing Salazar, said he was arrested Friday as he left the protest camp outside an ICE bond and processing facility near Wurzbach Parkway. He was taken to an area behind a nearby abandoned Walmart, the statement claims, where his personal items were confiscated, he was shackled and taken to a detention center in Pearsall. He was later taken to a detention center in Laredo.

RAICES and Salazar’s father claim the FBI also got involved, watching the Salazar home a month ago and then questioning Salazar after his arrest Friday about his online activities and trying to get him to cooperate against other protesters.

“They told him they had a search warrant for his cell phone based on accusations... related to impeding an officer and threats of bomb-making,” RAICES said in a statement. “Sergio has never been in trouble with the law and is strictly nonviolent. Sergio recently graduated (from) high school and is an aspiring filmmaker.”

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Salazar had a video at last year’s CineFestival and won an award in 2016 for his film work when he was a student at Roosevelt High School.

Other protestors at the campsite said Monday that Salazar was “kidnapped” but otherwise referred questions to RAICES.

FBI spokeswoman Michelle Lee declined comment about the allegations, but added “I’m not aware of any criminal charges against this individual at this time.”

A review of federal court records shows no criminal charges against Salazar, but court observers note he is in administrative immigration proceedings, which is a process different from the criminal justice system.

ICE officials said in a statement that the agency does not target immigrants unlawfully present in the United States based on their advocacy positions or in retaliation for critical comments they make.

“Any suggestion to the contrary is irresponsible, speculative and inaccurate. ICE prioritizes its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security,” the statement reads. “Target information is based on intelligence-driven leads - this may include open source information.”

Law enforcement sources confirmed to the Express-News that Salazar is the subject of scrutiny by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force because of an intelligence referral by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

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Salazar was being looked at because of his or his group’s online postings allegedly threatening law enforcement — and specifically ICE — and/or instructional videos on how to make certain unspecified weapons and countering law enforcement, according to the sources.

His name and the intelligence information wound up on a special FBI database, the sources said.

“When the FBI or JTTF gets a referral, (the information) is entered there,” said a retired FBI agent. “It could be anything, and not necessarily major. It could be someone heard the person making threats or saw them post them or things like that.”

Salazar’s involvement with the Autonomous Brown Berets de San Antonio, TejAztlan is also being scrutinized. On Facebook, the grass roots group says it is statewide and focuses on “serving the community and acting as a vanguard against oppression, racism, and poverty.”

Over the weekend, the group asked visitors to “Free Mapache” in a Facebook post saying the feds arrested Salazar to silence him.

“Mapache is a dedicated, longtime community activist who has committed himself to fighting deportations, police violence, and corporate exploitation,” the post states. “He is overflowing with generosity and is always willing to put himself on the line for others. He is only 18 years old, fresh out of high school, and he has already contributed and sacrificed so much for local activism. We ask you to give him all your support as we move forward in responding to this blatant example of State repression.”

His arrest comes ahead of a hearing this week in a lawsuit filed by Texas and other states challenging the constitutionality of DACA. The Mexican American Legal and Educational Fund entered the case to defend some DACA recipients because MALDEF says the Trump Administration opposes DACA.

Guillermo Contreras covers federal court and immigration news in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | gcontreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland