Report: Lafayette Grandfather Returns Home After Controversial ICE Arrest

LAFAYETTE, La. – A Lafayette grandfather is back home with his family after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week, according to a report from News 15.

Jose Francisco Garcia-Rodriguez, 73, was released from an ICE detention facility in Evangeline Parish after spending a week in custody. His controversial arrest sparked conversation with mixed reactions on Facebook and a social media campaign led by his stepdaughter, Christian Cooper Riggs, who had been pleading for his release.

Garcia-Rodriguez was reportedly arrested at a Circle K gas station on Johnston Street at Guilbeau Road, just a short distance from his home. The incident reportedly occurred as he was stopping on his way to work.

News 15 reported that the longtime Lafayette resident fled Cuba more than 45 years ago aboard a U.S.-provided ship offering refuge from the communist regime. According to his family, Garcia-Rodriguez has worked hard over the decades, holding labor-intensive jobs, raising a family, and paying taxes.

“He has lived a good life,” said Cooper Riggs. “He has worked hard labor jobs 40 to 60 hours a week. He has paid his taxes.”

While the family acknowledges Garcia-Rodriguez made mistakes in his past, they say he has paid his debts and worked to stay on a straight path. His immigration status remains unclear, and the family says they’ve been seeking citizenship help for over ten years. They claim they were advised by elected officials not to worry about his legal status as long as he remained employed and out of trouble.

The arrest drew further scrutiny due to Garcia-Rodriguez’s age, health conditions, and role as a caretaker. Cooper Riggs voiced concerns about broader immigration enforcement tactics, saying, “Starting with 73-year-old grandfathers who have heart conditions and who are caretakers is not the solution.”

News 15 was the first to report and confirm his release. For more information and the original story, visit KADN News 15.