Texas bakery owners face felony charges after ICE and Homeland Security raid their store, arresting eight suspected illegal immigrants.
At a Glance
- Leonardo Baez and Nora Alicia Avila-Guel accused of illegally hiring and housing undocumented immigrants
- Eight immigrant workers apprehended during a “worksite enforcement action”
- Owners admitted to knowing employees were unauthorized to work in the U.S.
- Case highlights stricter approach to illegal immigration under Trump administration
- $100,000 bond set for each of the accused bakery owners
ICE Raid Leads to Arrests and Charges
A South Texas bakery owned by Leonardo Baez and Nora Alicia Avila-Guel has become the center of a legal storm following a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The operation resulted in the detention of eight individuals suspected of being in the country without proper documentation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Betancourt found probable cause to charge the couple with “harboring aliens,” a serious federal offense.
The raid, described as a “worksite enforcement action” in the federal complaint, led to the apprehension of eight immigrant workers. Six of these workers were reportedly on temporary visas that did not permit employment in the United States and have since been removed to Mexico. This action aligns with the Trump administration’s intensified focus on enforcing immigration laws and holding employers accountable.
Owners Admit Knowledge of Workers’ Status
The case against Baez and Avila-Guel is particularly damning due to their admission of knowingly employing unauthorized workers. Special Agent Dillon Duke reported, “They stated that they knew this would happen one day.”
The couple allegedly not only employed these workers but also provided them with shelter in an adjacent apartment. This living space was described as having six beds, two bathrooms, no kitchen, and windows covered with cardboard, raising questions about the conditions in which the workers were housed.
Legal Implications and Defense
The defense team for Baez and Avila-Guel argued that providing shelter was not an attempt to conceal the workers. However, Judge Betancourt disagreed with this interpretation. The couple now faces charges under 8 USC 1324 for harboring illegal immigrants, a federal law designed to deter such practices.
On his first day in office, Trump issued an Executive Order declaring an emergency on the southern border, setting the tone for his administration’s immigration policies. Recent actions, such as Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown’s visit to assess border wall fortification progress, further emphasize this focus. Additionally, the administration has designated eight gangs and cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, expanding the government’s ability to act against these groups.
