Summary

Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez, a Washington State farmworker and respected union organizer, was detained by ICE in March 2025. His arrest followed weeks of public labor protests and drew immediate backlash from workers’ rights advocates who viewed it as retaliation. Juarez had no criminal record, and his immigration case had been dormant for years. The sudden reactivation and arrest mirrored a broader crackdown on migrant labor leadership under Trump’s second term.

Timeline of Events

Early March 2025

• Juarez speaks at a farmworker rally in Yakima County, denouncing working conditions and demanding a raise for seasonal crews.

March 10, 2025

• ICE agents detain Juarez during a routine labor inspection at a farm he helped organize. No new charges or violations are cited.

March–April 2025

• Multiple rallies and legal campaigns launched by union groups, calling for his release and framing the detention as retaliatory.

April 15, 2025

• Court hearing reveals ICE acted on an expired voluntary departure order from 2018, previously unenforced.

Key Violations

• Targeting of Labor Organizers: Clear evidence of state reprisal against protected speech and organizing.
• Selective Enforcement: ICE acted only after Juarez’s union activity became prominent.
• Chilling Effect: Created fear in migrant communities who depend on labor advocates.

Agencies Involved

• ICE Seattle Field Office
• DOJ Immigration Courts
• Local law enforcement reportedly cooperated, but role remains under review.

Agents Known to Be Involved

Media Coverage

Sources & Documents

Current Status

• Juarez remains in detention pending review. Legal teams have filed motions to terminate proceedings.
• Congressional inquiry launched into retaliatory ICE arrests of labor organizers in Pacific Northwest.

What You Can Do

• Demand Juarez’s immediate release through public statements and petitions.
• Track ICE field activity against known organizers.
• Submit FOIAs for arrest records, agent communications, and DHS directives.