Parents who supported former President Donald Trump's immigration policies now face the detention of their green card-holding son. Martin Verdi and Debora Rey had backed the former president's calls for stricter immigration enforcement, but their son, Agustin Gentile, has been held in ICE detention in South Georgia.
Agustin Gentile, who holds a green card and is a father of two U.S. citizen children, was detained upon re-entering the country. The detention stems from a past misdemeanor charge, despite the case having been officially closed in 2023.
Under policies implemented during the Trump administration, green card holders can face increased scrutiny and potential detention when re-entering the United States if they have prior criminal convictions, even for low-level offenses. This approach has led to the targeting of individuals like Gentile.
The detention is taking place at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, South Georgia. This facility is known for housing individuals facing deportation proceedings.
Verdi and Rey, who previously supported crackdowns primarily focused on undocumented immigration, report feeling betrayed by the outcome involving their son, a legal resident.
The couple met with a reporter at El Refugio, a hospitality house near the Stewart Detention Center that supports families visiting detained loved ones. Their situation highlights how broad immigration enforcement measures can impact even those with legal status and families with ties to the United States.
The detention of their son, despite his legal residency and the nature of the past charge, has caused the family to re-evaluate their views on immigration enforcement and its reach immigration crackdown.
The detention center in South Georgia houses Agustin Gentile ICE detention. The couple stated they feel let down by the dragnet they had previously supported.
