Prairie Grove woman speaks out after husband taken into federal immigration custody
By Abner Sosa
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PRAIRIE GROVE, Ark. (KHBS, KHOG) — A Prairie Grove business owner is speaking out after her husband was taken into federal immigration custody following a traffic crash last week.
According to Prairie Grove police, 27-year-old Waldin Sanchez was arrested Friday night after he allegedly drove off the road and struck a utility box near the city library. Police said an officer reported smelling alcohol on him and, because of a language barrier, took him to the Washington County Jail for sobriety testing.
Sanchez was arrested on charges of driving without a license and careless driving. Prairie Grove Police Capt. Jeff O’Brien said that once Sanchez was booked into jail, county protocol required checking his immigration status. When officials discovered he was in the country illegally, he was held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Maria Verde, who co-owns Del Rio Supermarket with her husband, said she is struggling to keep the family business open while he remains in custody hundreds of miles away in Louisiana.
“They said that if he wasn’t drunk, he would be released. But obviously…” Verde said.
Verde said she later learned her husband had been transferred to a federal detention center in Louisiana, where he is awaiting a hearing later this month. She said she has only received two brief phone calls from him since his arrest and has had to track down information about his case on her own.
“You have to be on top of these things because nobody tells you where your family member is or even gives you a call,” she said.
Immigration attorney Aaron Cash, who is not involved in the case, said detention does not necessarily mean deportation. He said people in Sanchez’s situation typically have a right to see a judge and may apply for asylum or cancellation of removal, depending on their circumstances and family ties in the United States.
“Certain people can apply for asylum,” Cash said. “Others can apply for what’s called cancellation of removal if they can show a certain amount of time in the U.S. and hardship to family members who are citizens or permanent residents.”
Cash said he has seen more ICE detentions triggered by minor traffic violations after local jails share information with federal immigration authorities.
Verde said the past few days have been overwhelming but that her Prairie Grove neighbors have offered support.
“The community; I never knew these people until I opened the store,” she said. “Now I have friends. They come and check on me. We’re all so close, all neighbors.”
As of Tuesday night, Sanchez remained in federal custody in Louisiana. ICE did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Verde said she plans to keep Del Rio Supermarket open as long as she can while also raising her three children.
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