Armando Garza Lira, the husband of Crystal City, Texas, Mayor Jose Cerda, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during an immigration enforcement operation on Wednesday night, according to law enforcement sources cited by NewsNation.
Authorities have alleged that Lira overstayed his visa. Federal officials have not publicly released charging documents detailing his immigration status. NewsNation reported that it contacted Crystal City for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Who is Armando Garza Lira?
Garza Lira is known publicly as the husband of Crystal City Mayor Jose Cerda. Beyond his relationship to the mayor, little verified public information about his professional or personal background has been released by authorities.
According to the report, law enforcement sources said he allegedly remained in the United States after his visa expired.
{{/usCountry}}According to the report, law enforcement sources said he allegedly remained in the United States after his visa expired.
{{/usCountry}}Police have not disclosed when Lira entered the country, what type of visa he allegedly held. No information on how long he is alleged to have overstayed his visa was also released.
What happened on Wednesday night?
According to NewsNation, at approximately 7:46 pm, the Zavala County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies assisted in the operation after they received complaints about an individual allegedly residing unlawfully in Crystal City, about 115 miles southwest of San Antonio.
The report noted that the office deputy made contact with two individuals occupying a vehicle in Crystal City, Texas, one of whom was Cerda's husband.
Post that Lira was taken to the Zavala County Jail. He was later transferred for further federal immigration proceedings. The sheriff’s office also confirmed that Mayor Jose Cerda was released without incident.
In its statement, the department emphasised that it is required to cooperate with federal immigration authorities under Texas law.
“The Zavala County Sheriff’s Office is committed to complying with Texas law regarding cooperation with federal immigration authorities,” the station said.