San Antonio congressman calls on federal government to release El Paso family allegedly detained by ICE
UPDATE (Nov. 7, 2026, 9 a.m.) — ABC-7 reached out to DHS and ICE on Nov. 6 to ask about Michell German’s case along with her family’s status; an ICE spokesperson replied Saturday morning with the following written statement:
“While conducting targeted enforcement arrests on October 22 in El Paso, Texas, ICE arrested Pablo Jose Guerrero-Pimentel, an illegal alien from Venezuela. Guerrero-Pimentel admitted he was in the U.S. illegally and had no documentation to remain in the U.S. legally. He was arrested along with a 17-year-old female passenger also in the country illegally.
During a separate targeted enforcement on the same date, ICE arrested Dolores Emilia Zarraga-Colina, an illegal alien from Venezuela. Zarraga-Colina admitted she was in the U.S. illegally and had no documentation to remain in the U.S. legally. She was arrested along with an 11-year-old female passenger also in the country illegally.
The family unit entered the U.S. illegally August 12, 2022, and under the Biden Administration they were released into the country. They are in ICE custody, together, at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center pending a hearing before an immigration judge. They will receive due process.
Detention is a choice. We encourage all individuals without lawful status to take control of their departure through the CBP Home app. The United States is offering $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport. We encourage every person here unlawfully to take advantage of this offer and preserve the opportunity to return to the United States lawfully in the future. Otherwise, they may be arrested and removed without the opportunity to return.”
No additional information is available at this time.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro (Democrat for Texas’ 20th District), who represents an area in western San Antonio and Bexar County, is urging ICE to release Michell Germán and her family. He said she is a student in El Paso and that ICE transferred them to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Dilley, Texas.
Rep. Castro has posted on his social media platforms and issued a news release stating that he met with the Germán family during his Oct. 30 visit to the “Dilley Trailer Prison,” a facility within the jurisdiction of the ICE San Antonio Field Office.
The congressman’s announcement read:
“Michell Germán should be getting ready for Senior Night this Friday. Instead, she’s locked away at the Dilley Trailer Prison with her parents and younger sister. I met with the family last week. Michell is a bright young student at a magnet school in El Paso, the Center for Career and Technology Education, who’s working toward her cosmetology license and dreams of a career in medicine. Her younger sister Paola attends Lamar Elementary and is only 11 years old.
“On Friday, Michell’s teammates will carry her picture onto the field. But she’s missing memories she’ll never get back.
“ICE should release the family immediately. Now is the time for Democrats to get to work, shut down the Dilley Trailer Prison, and end family detention once and for all.”
Rep. Castro’s office posted the statement on Nov. 4.
Michell Germán is a student at El Paso High School and a member of the EPHS Tigerettes.
Just recently, the dance team posted this on social media, recognizing and congratulating Michell.
ABC-7 has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the offices of Congresswoman Veronica Escobar, Congressman Joaquin Castro and EPISD for more information and comment.
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