After Immigration Court hearing, agents were waiting for him. His detention is now a federal case From the Continuing coverage: ICE activity in the Buffalo Niagara region series Patrick Lakamp News Enterprise Editor Jul 24, 2025 Jul 24, 2025 Updated Feb 25, 2026 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save When his Immigration Court hearing ended Monday in Buffalo, the Venezuelan man was told his next hearing before the judge would be April 15, 2026.kAm$@[ y6C6>J %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 6IA64E65 E@ H2=< @FE @7 E96 4@FCEC@@> – C6=62D65 @? 9:D @H? C64@8?:K2?46 2D 96 92D 366? D:?46 6?E6C:?8 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2 J62C 2?5 2 92=7 28@]k^AmkAmw:D C6=62D6 =2DE65 @?=J >:?FE6D]k^AmkAm&A@? H2=<:?8 @FE @7 E96 4@FCEC@@>[ E96 aa\J62C\@=5 >2? H2D 8C23365 3J 7656C2= 286?ED[ 56E2:?65 2?5 D6?E E@ E96 qF772=@ u656C2= s6E6?E:@? u24:=:EJ :? q2E2G:2[ F?DFC6 @7 H92E H@F=5 92AA6? ?6IE[ D2:5 2EE@C?6J s2?:6= t] y24<D@?[ H9@ C6AC6D6?ED 9:> AC@ 3@?@]k^Am People are also reading… Two retired Walworth County sheriff's officers hired to Lake Geneva Police Department Big things expected at new small course Wisconsin Department of Transportation to host meeting about upcoming road improvement project Look Ahead: Gary Con, fundraiser to help animals & a Balloon Adventure begins in Lake Geneva New Visit Lake Geneva partner has the right look and feel for special events Look Ahead: Maple Fest plus plenty of live music, comedy & more this weekend in Lake Geneva Lake Geneva school district set to implement updated facilities and grade configuration plan Head-on crash in Burlington on Wednesday afternoon leaves one dead Experienced captains to lead team, freshmen fight for varsity innings in upcoming season. How to watch, stream, listen to Wisconsin men's basketball's NCAA Tournament opener Wisconsin men's basketball 7-footer 'doing more every day' following apparent ankle injury MLB Free Agency: Tarik Skubal could set more contract records next offseason Polzin: Greatness remains out of reach for Greg Gard and Wisconsin men's basketball Lake Geneva BID considers adding Oktoberfest coordinator Trump says former president had an Iran confession. Predecessors deny recent contact kAm%@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 “92D ?@E 366? AC@G:565 H:E9 2?J C62D@? 7@C 9:D 56E6?E:@? – 2?5 E96C6 5@6D ?@E 2AA62C E@ 36 2?J =2H7F= ;FDE:7:42E:@? 7@C :E[” y24<D@? D2:5 :? 2 4@FCE 7:=:?8 2D 96 D@F89E 2 7656C2= 4@FCE @C56C E9:D H66< E@ E6>A@C2C:=J 3=@4< 2 A@E6?E:2= 56A@CE2E:@?]k^AmkAmw625:?8 :?E@ %9FCD52J’D =682= AC@4665:?8 367@C6 &]$] s:DEC:4E yF586 y@9? {] $:?2EC2 yC][ E96 '6?6KF6=2? >2? 5:5 ?@E <?@H “H96E96C E96 8@G6C?>6?E :?E6?5D E@ AFE 9:> @? 2 A=2?6 E@ $@FE9 $F52? :? E96 >:55=6 @7 E96 ?:89E @C >6C6=J DF3;64E 9:> E@ 2C3:EC2CJ 56E6?E:@?[ H9:49 D6CG6D ?@ =2H7F= :>>:8C2E:@? AFCA@D6[ H:E9@FE 2?J D6>3=2?46 @7 5F6 AC@46DD[” y24<D@? D2:5 :? 2 4@FCE 7:=:?8]k^Am kAm~? (65?6D52J[ y24<D@? D2:5 %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 D6?E 9:> 2 >6DD286 :?5:42E:?8 2 56A@CE2E:@? @77:46C E@=5 9:> 96 H@F=5 36 56A@CE65 E@ '6?6KF6=2 @? %9FCD52J]k^Am kAmpDD:DE2?E &]$] pEE@C?6J p52> z92=:= =2E6C 4@?7:C>65 E96 8@G6C?>6?E 92D ?@ A=2? E@ 56A@CE %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 2?JE:>6 D@@?[ $:?2EC2 D2:5 5FC:?8 %9FCD52J’D 962C:?8]k^AmkAm$@ $:?2EC2 4@?D:56C65 E96 C6BF6DE 7@C 2 E6>A@C2CJ C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C 3=@4<:?8 :>>65:2E6 56A@CE2E:@? E@ 36 >@@E]k^Am kAm$E:==[ E96 '6?6KF6=2? >2? C6>2:?D 56E2:?65[ D@ y24<D@? D2:5 96 H:== 6:E96C D66< E@ 2>6?5 E96 6I:DE:?8 C6DEC2:?:?8 @C56C C6BF6DE @C 7:=6 2 ?6H @?6 D66<:?8 9:D C6=62D6] $:?2EC2 D6E 3C:67:?8 5625=:?6D 29625 @7 2? @C2= 2C8F>6?E D4965F=65 7@C pF8] `b]k^AmkAm“%9:D 2C62 @7 =2H J:6=5D G2C:@FD @FE4@>6D 56E6C>:?65 3J G2C:@FD 56E2:=D[” $:?2EC2 E@=5 E96 =2HJ6CD[ 255:?8 E92E 96 6IA64ED E96> E@ AC@G:56 9:> 42D6 =2H 2?5 =682= 2FE9@C:EJ 2D H6== 2D 56E2:=D 23@FE E96 >2?’D 56E6?E:@? E@ 3FEEC6DD E96:C =682= 2C8F>6?ED]k^Am kAm“%96D6 2C6 ?@E 62DJ 42D6D[” $:?2EC2 D2:5]k^Am kAm“%9:D :D ?@E 2? 2C62 ;F586D ?665 E@ ECFDE E96:C 8FE @C 766=:?8D[” $:?2EC2 E@=5 E96 =2HJ6CD] “qFE C2E96C x ?665 E96 =2H 2?5 H:== DEF5J E96 =2H[” 2?5 @?=J E96? 2AA=J E96 =2H E@ C6249 2? @FE4@>6[ $:?2EC2 D2:5]k^AmkAm%9FCD52J’D 4@FCE AC@4665:?8 5:5 ?@E 56=G6 :?E@ E96 >6C:ED @7 %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6’D C6BF6DE[ 2?5 E96 ;F586 82G6 E96 &]$] pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46 F?E:= pF8] g E@ 7:=6 :ED HC:EE6? C6DA@?D6]k^Am kAm(96? %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 4C@DD65 :?E@ t= !2D@[ %6I2D[ @? s64] b[ a_ab[ 7656C2= 286?ED A=2465 9:> :?E@ C6>@G2= AC@4665:?8D E96 D2>6 52J] qFE &]$] x>>:8C2E:@? 2?5 rFDE@>D t?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD C6=62D65 9:> @? 9:D @H? C64@8?:K2?46 H:E9 4@?5:E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 C6A@CE:?8 E@ :>>:8C2E:@? 962C:?8D 2?5 E@ xrt @77:46D H96? :?DECF4E65]k^Am kAm$:?46 E96?[ 96 92D 4@>A=:65 H:E9 2== E96 4@?5:E:@?D 2D 96 AFCDF65 9:D =682= C:89E E@ 4=2:> 2DJ=F>[ H9:49 C6>2:?D A6?5:?8[ y24<D@? D2:5]k^AmkAm&?E:= E96 8@G6C?>6?E AC@G:56D :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 9:D 56E6?E:@?[ %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 :D AC6G6?E65 7C@> 7F==J 2DD6CE:?8 9:D 4=2:> E92E 9:D 56E6?E:@? :D F?=2H7F=[ y24<D@? D2:5]k^AmkAm%96 92362D 4@CAFD A6E:E:@? D66<D :?7@C>2E:@? 23@FE 9:D 56E6?E:@? 2?5 E96 8@G6C?>6?E’D :?E6?E:@?D[ y24<D@? D2:5]k^Am kAm“%96 8@G6C?>6?E’D 24E:@?D >2J 36 H9@==J =68:E:>2E6 2?5 ;FDE:7:65[” y24<D@? D2:5 :? 2 4@FCE 7:=:?8] “qFE F?E:= E96 :?7@C>2E:@?[ H9:49 :D 6I4=FD:G6=J :? :ED A@DD6DD:@? 2?5 H9:49 :E 92D E9FD 72C C67FD65 E@ AC@G:56[ ?6:E96C W%@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6X ?@C E9:D 4@FCE 42? <?@H]”k^Am kAmy24<D@? 25565 E92E “:E H@F=5 C2:D6 D6C:@FD 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 4@?46C?D :7 E96 8@G6C?>6?E[ 3J 56A@CE:?8 W9:>X[ =67E 9:> H:E9 ?@ >62?:?87F= @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 36 962C5[ 6:E96C E9C@F89 25>:?:DEC2E:G6 C6>65:6D 367@C6 2? :>>:8C2E:@? ;F586 2?5 q@2C5 @7 x>>:8C2E:@? pAA62=D @C E9C@F89 ;F5:4:2= C6G:6H]”k^Am kAmz92=:=’D 4@?7:C>2E:@? E92E xrt 5@6D ?@E A=2? E@ :>>65:2E6=J 56A@CE %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 C6>@G6D D@>6 @7 E96 FC86?4J 7C@> E96 42D6[ $:?2EC2 D2:5]k^AmkAm“%96 8@@5 E9:?8 :D H6 92G6 >@C6 E:>6 E@ 564:56 E9:?8D[” E96 ;F586 D2:5 %9FCD52J]k^AmkAmqFE 2E %9FCD52J’D 962C:?8[ y24<D@? 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? E92E xrt 4@F=5 >@G6 9:D 4=:6?E E@ 2?@E96C 56E6?E:@? 724:=:EJ :? 2?@E96C A2CE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ H9:=6 9:D 7656C2= 42D6 AC@4665D :? qF772=@[ =62G:?8 9:> “@? 9:D @H? 2?5 2H2J 7C@> 4@F?D6=]”k^Am kAmy24<D@? 92D C6BF6DE65 4@A:6D @7 2== ?@E:46D E96 8@G6C?>6?E AC@G:565 E@ %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6]k^AmkAmx7 xrt 9@=5D @77 >@G:?8 9:> E@ 2 5:776C6?E 56E6?E:@? 724:=:EJ @FED:56 E96 2C62[ E92E H@F=5 2==2J E9@D6 4@?46C?D[ $:?2EC2 D2:5]k^AmkAm“x 42?’E 4@>>:E E@ E92E 2?5 x 5@F3E xrt H@F=5 4@>>:E E@ E92E[” z92=:= C6A=:65]k^AmkAm%@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6 92D ?@E C646:G65 2?J ?@E:46 9:D C64@8?:K2?46 @C56C H2D 42?46=65[ 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?@ 492?86 :? 4:C4F>DE2?46D D:?46 96 H2D C6=62D65 2 J62C 2?5 92=7 28@]k^Am kAm“%9:D 42D6 :D <:?5 @7 4@>A=:42E65[” z92=:= E@=5 E96 ;F586]k^Am kAm%96 724ED :? %@CC62=32 {=@C6?E6’D 42D6 4@F=5 EC:886C 5:776C6?E =2HD E92E E96 8@G6C?>6?E >2J 4:E6 2D 2 =682= 32D:D 7@C 56E2:?:?8 9:>[ z92=:= D2:5]k^Am Patrick Lakamp can be reached at plakamp@buffnews.com In this Series Continuing coverage: ICE activity in the Buffalo Niagara region Updated Feb 25, 2026 Gov. Hochul proposes law to keep police from working as deputized ICE officers Updated Feb 25, 2026 'We stand in solidarity': Buffalo restaurants, cafés and shops close to protest ICE Updated Feb 25, 2026 An asylum-seeker from Africa volunteered across Buffalo. Now he's in ICE custody 27 updates Previous Next Locations Newyork Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Judge orders release of Venezuelan who sought asylum in Buffalo Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo of the U.S District Court, Western District of New York, ruled that federal authorities must release Oliver Eloy Mat… His due process rights violated, Gambian man asked for time before being deported. He got 48 hours U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo became the most recent federal judge to weigh in with concerns over how U.S. Immigration and Custom Enfor… When ICE comes to the neighborhood: WNY grapples with new look of immigration enforcement Thomas Homan, the president's border czar, has said that Trump has secured the U.S. border "to its highest level." But in communities where th… Detained and facing deportation, some see early wins in federal court. Others give up Not everybody stays the course in federal court when challenging detention. Several detainees who filed petitions for release so far this year… Judge Vilardo rebukes ICE's 'about-face' on mandatory detention policy With his ruling in a local case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo joined a vast majority of the country's federal judges who have rejected… A Buffalo judge kept her off a planeload of deported Iranians. A Texas judge will decide what happens next A judge's order in Buffalo kept an Iranian woman off a deportation flight to Iran, but a Texas court will decide what happens next. Court sees uptick in illegal immigration prosecutions: 'No one feels good in the courtroom.' Since the Jan. 20 start of the second Trump administration, 26 migrants have been charged in Buffalo with reentering the United States after h… 'Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo, hurt them': Man charged with making threats to Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations arrests Jamestown man over online threats to immigration agents. Foreign students win reprieve after 'a couple of weeks of terror and fear and turmoil' The federal government said it will restore proof of legal status for thousands of international students, but anxiety and uncertainty remain … For ICE detainees, 'luck of the draw' decides who gets a hearing and chance for release The debate over what to do about immigrants who have entered the country illegally or as refugees has been playing out for months in governmen… Watch Now: Related Video Iran threatens world tourism sites and says it's still building missiles - AP explains WisEye Morning Minute: Speaker Vos on Surplus Deal WisEye Morning Minute: Speaker Vos on Surplus Deal Top stories for March 20, 2026 Top stories for March 20, 2026 WisEye Morning Minute: Senate Approves Online Gaming Bill WisEye Morning Minute: Senate Approves Online Gaming Bill
Judge orders release of Venezuelan who sought asylum in Buffalo Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo of the U.S District Court, Western District of New York, ruled that federal authorities must release Oliver Eloy Mat…
His due process rights violated, Gambian man asked for time before being deported. He got 48 hours U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo became the most recent federal judge to weigh in with concerns over how U.S. Immigration and Custom Enfor…
When ICE comes to the neighborhood: WNY grapples with new look of immigration enforcement Thomas Homan, the president's border czar, has said that Trump has secured the U.S. border "to its highest level." But in communities where th…
Detained and facing deportation, some see early wins in federal court. Others give up Not everybody stays the course in federal court when challenging detention. Several detainees who filed petitions for release so far this year…
Judge Vilardo rebukes ICE's 'about-face' on mandatory detention policy With his ruling in a local case, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo joined a vast majority of the country's federal judges who have rejected…
A Buffalo judge kept her off a planeload of deported Iranians. A Texas judge will decide what happens next A judge's order in Buffalo kept an Iranian woman off a deportation flight to Iran, but a Texas court will decide what happens next.
Court sees uptick in illegal immigration prosecutions: 'No one feels good in the courtroom.' Since the Jan. 20 start of the second Trump administration, 26 migrants have been charged in Buffalo with reentering the United States after h…
'Kill them all, ICE is the new age gestapo, hurt them': Man charged with making threats to Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations arrests Jamestown man over online threats to immigration agents.
Foreign students win reprieve after 'a couple of weeks of terror and fear and turmoil' The federal government said it will restore proof of legal status for thousands of international students, but anxiety and uncertainty remain …
For ICE detainees, 'luck of the draw' decides who gets a hearing and chance for release The debate over what to do about immigrants who have entered the country illegally or as refugees has been playing out for months in governmen…
