Washington Man Faces Unexpected ICE Detention

Juan Martinez, a longtime Washington state resident, was not the intended target when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents apprehended him in late July. His attorney, Lisa Seifert, shared this information on Friday. Martinez, 46, was arrested on July 30 when he arrived for his shift at a Conway gas station, where he was known for his friendly demeanor and community presence.

Seifert explained, “What was he doing? His job. There was no reason to target this guy.” Martinez, originally from Mexico, entered the United States in 2000 and pursued lawful permanent residency through his brother, a U.S. citizen.

A few days prior to his arrest, Martinez noticed ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations agents near the gas station. Seifert mentioned prosecutors later admitted in court documents that they were targeting someone else. ICE agents might have been searching for the car’s previous owner, a silver Honda Martinez recently bought without updating the registration.

“He bought that car from someone and hadn’t switched the registration yet,” Seifert noted. “So, when ICE continued looking around, they found the car and then they found him.” As of Friday, Martinez is held at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, awaiting his court return on October 8.

Seifert expressed hope for a positive outcome, stating, “We hope the judge is going to decide that he’s eligible to become a permanent resident and approve his application that we have filed.” Unfortunately, attempts to contact the Department of Homeland Security on Friday received no response. An online fundraiser for Martinez has raised over $9,300 during his legal struggles.

The fundraiser described Martinez as a “beloved friend and community member in Conway,” with most residents knowing him from his years at the Red Barn gas station. He was affectionately called the “Mayor of Conway” due to his extensive local connections. With no criminal record, Martinez brought “kindness, laughter, and conversation” to customers, according to Tim Ferrell, who organized the fundraiser.

Faced with a complex immigration court process, Martinez continues to pursue permanent residency. “Immigration court is high-stakes and frightening,” Ferrell stated, noting the potential life-changing decisions involved.

Ferrell, from Big Lake, Washington, has known Martinez for nine years due to work around his property. “He is a super intelligent, worldly guy, very personable and fun to work with,” Ferrell shared with Newsweek. “We did a lot of work together on the landscaping here and a variety of chores.” After Martinez’s detention, Ferrell helped connect him with attorney Seifert.

Community member Lindsey Brooks, a regular customer at the gas station, commented on the void left by Martinez’s absence. “I didn’t know him that well, I knew him from the store, but he always nice,” Brooks said, mentioning the impact on her son. “My son came home and was so upset,” she recalled. “He said, ‘They took him.'”

Despite his circumstances, Martinez retains a hopeful outlook, according to Seifert. “His mindset is pretty good,” she remarked. “I told him when he got to the detention center that he should really take care of his mindset — he should meditate, go to religious services — because it’s tough to be there. And he took our advice about that. He’s a very gregarious, friendly guy, so he has met a lot of friends there. Some have been moved to other detention centers, but I think his mindset is good.”