By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the NEWS
Representatives of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 22347 of San Benito traveled hundreds of miles earlier this month to join a peaceful demonstration outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas.
Elias Cantu said members of his LULAC council, along with District Director Federico Garza, joined other LULAC councils statewide to stand in solidarity and call for the release of five-year-old Liam Ramos and his father, Adrian, who had been detained at the facility.
According to Martinez, the trip was organized following discussions with Texas LULAC State Director Gabriel Rosales, who confirmed that multiple councils were traveling by bus and motor coach to the detention center.
He said the group also stayed in contact with National LULAC President Roman Palomares and former president Domingo Garcia.
Cantu explained that his council had been closely following national news reports on immigration enforcement incidents, including the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis.
He said they later learned of the detention of Liam Ramos and his father on Jan. 20 and of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. LULAC leaders subsequently met with the NAACP and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and announced a San Antonio rally calling for the family’s release.
While traveling early Sunday morning toward Dilley, Cantu said he learned on social media that Liam and his father had been released the previous night.
He said they were picked up by Congressman Joaquin Castro after visiting Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, and that a U.S. district judge ordered their release. Cantu also saw photos of the family arriving in Minneapolis, where they were greeted by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar.
Despite the news, Cantu said the group continued the trip because other families were still detained.
Upon arrival, they met with national LULAC officers, held a press conference, and then held a peaceful protest outside the facility gates.
Cantu noted a significant police presence for safety and said LULAC members and officers maintained mutual respect throughout the demonstration.
The round-trip spanned approximately 500 miles and took about 12 hours. Cantu said he hopes the community understands the broader impact on families and local businesses when people are detained.
“We hope our local community understands that it took a five-year-old to be the face and example of what is happening across the country and right here in our own backyard,” Cantu said. “Workers are being taken from their families and from the place they have called home for years.”
He added that LULAC intends to continue advocating for individuals in detention and emphasized the importance of due process.
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