Mexican Citizen Unlawfully Detained By Ice While Legally Transporting A Vehicle Through The U.s. What Can We Expect Next?

Location: Alabama, Louisiana.

My Location: Mexico.

My family and I are Mexican citizens living full-time in Mexico. We’ve had valid U.S. visas for over 15 years and have never had any immigration issues.

My dad works in a fully legal cross-border business transporting exports from the U.S. to Mexico (company is established in Mexico, he is paid here and has never overstayed) This week, he crossed the border legally, with full documentation and disclosure, to pick up an 18-wheeler in Delaware that is being imported into Mexico.

While driving in Alabama, he was pulled over by a state trooper. The trooper questioned him in English (my dad is not fully bilingual) and asked questions implying he was working in the U.S. illegally, which he was not, as this was a lawful import/export trip. The trooper eventually said it was “not his jurisdiction” and called ICE to the scene.

My dad was detained by ICE around 11:00 AM on Friday, which is when he called my mom and his employer right before surrendering his phone. However, the ticket given to the employer for a supposed missing sticker (which was actually not required in this type of import/export situation) was marked 8:45 AM, which is incorrect. He was alone when detained.

Since then, we have struggled to get any information. Although we have his A-number, we could not locate him in the ICE locator until today (Sunday), and only now learned he was transferred to Winn Parish Correctional Center in Louisiana.

We cannot reach anyone at the facility to obtain his inmate ID number, which means we cannot deposit funds or set up communication. No one answers calls, and no one provides updates.

We were able to speak with him Saturday only because he was lent money. He said officers are pressuring him to sign a voluntary deportation, falsely admitting he was working illegally. He has refused to sign anything. We have not heard from him again today.

Our questions:

1. How long does it usually take after a transfer for an inmate ID to be updated in the system? Should we expect it to be updated on Monday once offices open, or could it take several days?

2. Are detention centers required to provide basic information (like an inmate ID) to immediate family? We are only asking for information necessary to send money and receive calls. But the time-frames to have him fully entered into their system seem so long we're not sure about anything anymore.

3. What typically happens next in a case like this? He entered legally, was performing a lawful cross-border job, and was detained based on questioning unrelated to immigration violations.

4. Do we need to wait for him to meet with an immigration attorney before anything moves forward? His employer has hired one, but we have not been able to speak with him again since the transfer.

5. Is the pressure to sign a voluntary departure normal in these cases? He has been told repeatedly that “the fastest way out” is signing papers admitting he committed a violation he did not commit. If he signed just to get out, could this be fought more intensely from Mexico?

We’re very worried and would appreciate any guidance from immigration attorneys familiar with cross-border commercial cases, ICE detentions, or the Winn Parish facility.

Thank you.

UDPATE

Apparently the lawyer the company hired is insisting that he must sign a voluntary leave so that they can continue fighting after he is released to us. That they will hold his visa but it can be fought afterwards with all of the proof they have. Any thoughts?