Overview
- The arrests that took place on Nov. 7 at Phoenix Sky Harbor involved Agustin Baccega and Gustavo Romanello and left both men in ICE custody at the Florence Service Processing Center.
- ICE says both men lawfully entered the U.S. in 2020 but overstayed their authorized periods of admission, and that employment authorization does not stop enforcement actions.
- Friends and the Ybarra Maldonado Law Group say Baccega and Romanello hold work permits and have pending asylum applications, and they provided images of permits that they say show validity through 2029.
- Attorneys met with the men in detention and have filed for custody redetermination hearings as local advocates and a congressional office press for explanations and immediate release.
- The case highlights a legal distinction readers should know: a work permit allows someone to work but does not create lawful immigration status or automatically prevent arrest, and the outcome could influence how immigrant travelers view airport encounters and document preservation requests.