Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended a 26-year-old man at his workplace in Lynwood, Washington, after one agent posed as a customer with car trouble, according to the man's fiancée.
Christopher Ruiz de Jesus was taken into ICE custody on Saturday while working at the TOS Wheels and Tires shop. Surveillance footage shared by his fiancée, Jade Gaspar, shows a plain-clothed agent entering the store and asking Ruiz de Jesus to help with a vehicle outside. Exterior cameras then captured the agent leading Ruiz de Jesus into a parking lot, where he was met by masked officers in tactical gear.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed Ruiz de Jesus's arrest, stating that he entered the U.S. illegally from Mexico at an unspecified time and location. He remains in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.
Gaspar stated that Ruiz de Jesus, who she has been with for 12 years, has no criminal history and has lived in the U.S. since he was five years old. He has worked at the tire shop for six years, serving as its manager. Gaspar described him as the primary provider for their household, which includes their nearly two-year-old son.
Gaspar alleges that immigration authorities blindsided Ruiz de Jesus and that he was unaware of their presence until his apprehension. However, a DHS spokesperson denied accusations that law enforcement credentials were not displayed, calling them "FALSE." The spokesperson also mentioned that the U.S. government is offering $3,000 and a free flight to individuals who choose to self-deport, encouraging undocumented immigrants to utilize this program.
Gaspar has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds for legal assistance and to cover living expenses, as their lease is set to expire at the end of October. She expressed the traumatic impact of Ruiz de Jesus's detention on their family, particularly on their young son.
