Yuma DACA recipient detained, family demanding his release
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A Yuma man is being processed by U.S. Border Patrol in Florence, Arizona and his family is demanding answers.
They say he was wrongfully detained despite being a recipient of the federal DACA program.
Outside the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Yuma, family members of 27-year-old Jose Valdovinos have been gathering to protest his arrest and call for his immediate release.
Valdovinos' wife says they were pulled over Sunday night without a clear explanation after leaving a local gas station.
"We were at Circle K, we went to get a drink before he went to his mom's house…They got behind us. We rolled down the window, they asked us both if we were U.S. citizens. I said, 'Yes, I am a U.S. citizen, he has DACA.' Once they heard DACA, they immediately switched up. They told me that DACA is no longer considered legal entry to the U.S.," says Flores.
Footage from the traffic stop shows Valdovinos and his family confronting law enforcement asking for clarity on why he was being detained.
DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a federal immigration policy that grants temporary protection from deportation for those brought to the U.S. as children.
It allows for work authorization, renewable every two years, but does not provide a path to citizenship or permanent legal status.
Flores explains, "I provided all the legal paperwork they could possibly ask for. I've sent transcripts, paystubs, he's been working since he got out of high school, he has his diploma. They have no reason to detain him for so long."
Valdovinos has lived in Yuma since he was two years old and has been married to his longtime girlfriend for over a year.
She says this experience has shaken her trust in local authorities.
"It's crazy because you want to feel safe around YPD, you want to feel safe around Border Patrol, and they're supposed to target criminals, but they're targeting people like us, people that work, people that don't get into criminal stuff, people that don't do drugs, it's crazy, it's honestly insane we don't feel safe," Flores expressed.
In a statement, Valdovinos' sister says the fight for his release is just beginning and that this is about more than just one person.
"We're going to continue to push because I know my brother. He's a Yuma community member and has been since the age of two. We're ready to fight because we know who he is. So, we are demanding for his immediate release because this is a huge injustice to the DACA community," Estela Valdovinos stated.
According to immigration policy, Valdovinos could be released, held longer, or even placed into removal proceedings depending on his DACA status, immigration history, and any potential criminal record.
We've reached out to U.S. Border Patrol for comment and are still waiting for a response.
We'll continue to follow this developing story and bring you updates as we learn more.
