Overview

• The Department of Homeland Security said Benjamin Marcelo Guerrero-Cruz overstayed his Visa Waiver Program by more than two years and will remain in ICE custody pending deportation.
• Family members and a GoFundMe update report he is confined with roughly 40 to 50 adult detainees in crowded cells with insufficient food, water and hygiene supplies.
• Advocates note this case follows a series of immigration actions near Los Angeles schools this year, including attempted entries at elementary campuses and a mistaken arrest of a 15-year-old student.
• A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $20,000 to cover his legal fees and highlights his role as a devoted student who helps care for his younger siblings.
• Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has called for restrictions on enforcement near campuses to allay students’ fears and protect learning.