BLUE ASH, Ohio — Faith leaders and community advocates are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to release Alonzo Tomas Mendez on bond. They held a press conference Tuesday afternoon outside the Homeland Security Office in Blue Ash.
On Saturday, May 31, ICE agents arrested Mendez outside of a Kroger in East Price Hill as part of a series of arrests. According to ICE, two of those arrested had prior criminal charges related to DUI and public intoxication, and all four were in the country illegally.
We checked court records in Hamilton and Butler counties and Mendez does not have any cases that show up.
Mendez and his family were on their way to a birthday party where Mendez planned on grabbing some items for the party and left his partner and four children, ages 4 and 7, in the parked car outside. As he was approaching the entrance, witnesses said ICE agents surrounded him. Community advocates say this left his family traumatized, confused, and distressed. They also accuse ICE agents of threatening to detain the children's mother as well.
Watch video of the arrests shared with us by Walter Vasquez:
Those who know Mendez describe him as a devoted father, partner and person of faith who has lived in the U.S. for more than three years. They say he is an active member of an Evangelical Church and a graduate of the theological seminary, UTESCO, Universidad Teologica y Estudios Contemporáneos. They also said Mendez is a committed member of the East Price Hill community.
"This is a guy whose goal was only to take care of his family, to love God with all of his heart he was active in his church here in Cincinnati," said Walter Vasquez, community advocate.
Hear more from the community leaders calling for Mendez's release:
"You would do anything for the sake of your family to cross that line. If the wait time was years, guaranteed, you would slip across that line, the very next night to find freedom and opportunity. All we're asking for is due process for Alonzo," said Dave Workman, former pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Springdale.
Troy Jackson, executive director of the nonprofit Undivided, is urging authorities to release Mendez on bond, so he can be with his family.
"I don't know all of the answers but one thing I do believe when Jesus sees his broken system and what it does to families and children who love each other by ripping them apart, I believe Jesus weeps. I believe Jesus weeps and I believe Jesus is weeping today with Alonzo and his family," said Jackson.
WCPO 9 News reached out to the Department of Homeland Security to find out more information surrounding Mendez's case. He's still listed as an inmate in the Butler County Jail with an ICE hold. Homeland Security sent us a statement from Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary for public affairs, saying:
“On Saturday, May 31—during a targeted enforcement operation and subsequent investigation—ICE Cincinnati encountered and arrested four illegal aliens in the East Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati. Two of the illegal aliens had DUIs and public intoxication charges on their criminal records. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, we are once again a nation of laws. Illegal aliens can take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $1,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.”
Meanwhile, advocates for Mendez say he's being held under cruel conditions, allegedly only getting one meal a day.
"He was looking for a better life for his kids because at home he could not find that. Let's stop labeling people as criminals when they're just simple humble hard-working people," said Vasquez.
Mendez had an immigration hearing scheduled for June 17 but Vasquez said it was canceled. He didn't know why that happened, but said he has a lawyer representing him. However, he didn't provide a name or contact information.
