Man Who Came to US at Age 2 Detained by ICE
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A 21-year-old Virginia Tech student who has lived in the United States since he was 2 years old and is in the process of applying for a green card was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump campaigned on mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, specifically targeting those with violent criminal records, and his administration ramped up immigration enforcement since his return to office in January.
Recent polls, however, suggest some Americans are turning on Trump's immigration policy amid reports that individuals with no criminal records or nonviolent offenses are being targeted.
The administration said it deported around 100,000 illegal immigrants in the initial months of the presidency. Many individuals have been deported following Trump invoking the rarely used Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which has been criticized and blocked by judges.
What To Know
On July 9, Cristian Romo-Bermejo attended a going-away party for his friend. During the party, his friends believed he began to have a panic attack, and he asked for an ambulance, Blacksburg-based news station WSLS reported.
His sister, Carina, said police arrived with the ambulance, and he told them that he did not have legal status. Police allege that Romo-Bermejo threatened medical staff and assaulted officers while at the hospital. His sister told WSLS that he "has no criminal record" and is "not a violent person."
Romo-Bermejo, from Mexico, is married to a U.S. citizen, Jadyn Yost, who says he is in the process of applying for a green card. She told WSLS that they plan to seek cancellation of removal once the criminal case is settled.
ICE responded to his arrest in a statement first reported by WSLS, writing that Romo-Bermejo was "illegally present" in the U.S. and was "charged with two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer."
"On July 13, the Montgomery County Jail honored the ICE detainer and transferred custody to ICE Washington, D.C. who served Romo-Bermejo a notice to appear before a Justice Department immigration judge. Romo-Bermejo will further be held in custody without bond as he is subject to mandatory detention under the Laken Riley Act," the statement reads.
ICE records reviewed by Newsweek show that he remains in custody at the Farmville Detention Center in Farmville, Virginia.
A man holds a sign that reads "Love your immigrant neighbor" during a protest in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025.
A man holds a sign that reads "Love your immigrant neighbor" during a protest in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025.
DAVID PASHAEE/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
A GoFundMe campaign for Romo-Bermejo has raised over $33,000.
"Cristian is not a criminal. He is not a threat. He is a husband, a friend, a classmate. He is a person who shows more strength and dedication than most of us will ever be asked to. This country is the only place he has ever known, and now he is locked away from all of it," the GoFundMe reads.
There have been numerous reports of migrants living in the U.S. being detained amid Trump's immigration crackdown. For instance, a Michigan mother of two is facing deportation after reporting an alleged assault to her local police. A Brazilian man living in Florida with a valid Florida ID and work permit was detained while visiting the Grand Canyon last month.
What People Are Saying
Cristian Romo-Bermejo's wife, Jadyn Yost, told WSLS: "He was disoriented and scared and begging to be taken to a hospital to get help. He wasn't trying to cause harm."
Attorney John Fishwick told WSET: "The fact that he's being held, they may be taking the position that he's an illegal citizen and therefore we want to remove him from this country."
Eduardo Zelaya, Virginia's organizing director at immigration advocacy group CASA, said in a statement: "The illegal and inhumane criminalization of Cristian is yet another example of rising authoritarian ideals that are being adopted and implemented in our commonwealth of Virginia. He experienced a health emergency and should have received care and compassion, not handcuffs and detention."
What Happens Next
Romo-Bermejo's next immigration hearing is scheduled for August, reported Lynchburg news station WSET. His family and legal team plan to seek cancellation of removal once the criminal case concludes.
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