Latest news with #LuisAlvarez
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Man who rescued Florida girl from shark attack arrested by ICE, faces deportation
A man who rushed to rescue a nine-year-old girl after a shark attack in Florida is now facing possible deportation. Luis Alvarez, 31, helped save the child after she was bitten and seriously injured while swimming, according to a report in Fort Myers News-Press. The dramatic rescue, which took place earlier this month, drew praise from many, but Alvarez's situation has taken a turn since then. A man arrested by ICE had helped a shark attack victim in Florida days earlier (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Just days after the incident, Alvarez was stopped by police in the early hours of June 14 in Lehigh Acres, Lee County – about 140 miles northwest of Miami. According to an arrest report seen by the Fort Myers News-Press, officers said he was driving without his headlights on and did not have a valid driver's licence. Alvarez is now being held in jail by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and could now face deportation. He is scheduled to be presented before a judge on July 9. Why was Luis Alvarez arrested? Police say that Alvarez was pulled over on June 14 at around 1.30am (local time) for driving without his headlights on. When officers asked him for his driving license, he showed them a picture of his Employment Authorization Card on his phone. Then, speaking in Spanish, Alvarez apparently told cops that he had been living in the United States for two and a half years and had never had a driver's license. The arrest report said Alvarez is from Boaco, Nicaragua. How did he help a shark attack victim? On June 9, nine-year-old Leah Lendel was bitten by a shark while swimming at a Florida beach. Alvarez was the first person to go into the water. He attempted to scare the shark even as it attacked the nine-year-old. 'He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah,' fellow reducer Raynel Lugo told Fox News. 'He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark.'
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Man who helped girl attacked by shark in Florida detained by Ice officials
A man who helped rescue a nine-year-old girl after she was attacked and badly injured by a shark in Florida has been detained by immigration authorities – and he could face deportation. Luis Alvarez was stopped in the early hours of 14 June after police said he was driving without headlights on, according to an arrest report seen by the Fort Myers News-Press. The paper revealed Alvarez was being held in jail by the US's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice). As Donald Trump promised it would during his victorious 2024 presidential election, the White House is conducting a national crackdown on immigration with broad sweeps by Ice that have triggered widespread fears in many communities across the US. The Trump administration has claimed its immigration crackdown's priority is to target dangerous criminals. But recent data has shown a surge in people with no criminal history being targeted by the crackdown. Being in the US without legal status is not a criminal offense – it is a civil infraction. Alvarez had been involved in the widely reported shark attack on Leah Lendel, nine, when the youngster was bitten on 9 June while she swam in shallow water off the coast of Boca Grande, Florida. Alvarez had been on the beach during the attack and ran into the water to help the injured child, according to witnesses and local media reports. Lendel's hand was nearly severed after the attack. Alvarez was the first person into the water as he sought to scare the shark, fellow rescuer Raynel Lugo said in an interview with local television station Fox4 News. 'He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah,' Lugo told the broadcaster 'He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark.' Alvarez is now scheduled for a court hearing before a judge on 9 July. Police reportedly described him as being originally from Boaco, Nicaragua.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man Rushed to Help 9-Year-Old Shark Attack Victim. Days Later, ICE Arrests Him and Says He's in the Country Illegally
Just three days after he helped save a 9-year-old girl from a shark attack, 31-year-old Luis Alvarez was arrested for allegedly driving without a valid driver's license He is now facing potential deportation, according to news reports, and ICE says he's been in the country illegally since 2022 "He's a real decent guy," a colleague who also assisted in the rescue said of AlvarezA man who helped rescue a 9-year-old girl from a shark attack is now in the custody of immigration officials — and potentially facing punishment including deportation — according to authorities and local news reports. Earlier this month, 31-year-old Luis Alvarez was one of three men who came to help the young girl, Leah Lendel, after she was bitten by a shark while vacationing with her family. He is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly driving without a license, Fox affiliate WFTX and the Fort Myers News-Press initially reported. On Saturday, June 14, at 1:37 a.m. local time, Alvarez was pulled over after an officer said he was driving without headlights in Immokalee, Fla., according to an arrest report reviewed by PEOPLE. Alvarez, who was born in Nicaragua, per the arrest report, presented the officer with a picture of his U.S. Employment Authorization Document on his phone when asked to present his driver's license. But a records check conducted by the officer showed that Alvarez had never been issued a U.S. driver's license. Alvarez told the officer he'd been in the country for two and a half years, according to the report. He was then arrested by the Collier County Sheriff's Office for allegedly driving without a valid driver's license, according to the report and court records. A spokesperson for the Collier County Jail confirms to PEOPLE that Alvarez is being held by ICE. An ICE spokesperson says Alvarez entered the country illegally in December 2022 — despite showing police a work authorization document, according to his arrest report — and was subsequently taken into custody this month as part of a partnership between local police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Bail is set at $150. Alvarez will appear in court on July 9. He was previously arrested four times in Lee County for not having a driver's license, the News-Press reported. He either paid fines or had adjudication withheld by judges, the most recent of which issued a D6 license suspension on June 23, according to the outlet. The News-Press also reported that Alvarez was represented by attorney Jose Calvo last year. Calvo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Just days before his arrest, Alvarez was celebrated for his response to the shark attack. The Boca Grande County Fire Department, Lee County Sheriff's Department and emergency services responded to a call about a "potential shark bite" around 12 p.m. local time on June 11 in Boca Grande, Fla., Boca Grande Fire Chief C.W. Blosser previously said in a video statement. Jay Lendel, the father of the victim, Leah, said that emergency responses arrived in about three minutes. Nearby construction workers including Alvarez also came over to assist the family. Alfonso Tello, who was at the scene, told Gulf Coast News that when he got in the water to help, he saw what appeared to be an 8-foot-long shark. "We saw the little girl coming out of the water with no hand," Tello said, adding, "Everybody was in shock." Leah's family and the construction workers were able to get her to Shore Lane. She was then airlifted to a nearby hospital and underwent an emergency, six-hour surgery to repair her hand. The young girl's mom later confirmed to Gulf Coast News on June 12 that "doctors were able to put her hand back together." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One of the workers who responded told WFTX about the big role his colleague, Alvarez, played in the rescue. "He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah," Raynel Lugo told the outlet. "He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark." Added Lugo, according to WFTX. "He's a real decent guy." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Man Rushed to Help 9-Year-Old Shark Attack Victim. Days Later, ICE Arrests Him and Says He's in the Country Illegally
Just three days after he helped save a 9-year-old girl from a shark attack, 31-year-old Luis Alvarez was arrested for allegedly driving without a valid driver's license He is now facing potential deportation, according to news reports, and ICE says he's been in the country illegally since 2022 "He's a real decent guy," a colleague who also assisted in the rescue said of AlvarezA man who helped rescue a 9-year-old girl from a shark attack is now in the custody of immigration officials — and potentially facing punishment including deportation — according to authorities and local news reports. Earlier this month, 31-year-old Luis Alvarez was one of three men who came to help the young girl, Leah Lendel, after she was bitten by a shark while vacationing with her family. He is currently being held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after he was arrested earlier this month for allegedly driving without a license, Fox affiliate WFTX and the Fort Myers News-Press initially reported. On Saturday, June 14, at 1:37 a.m. local time, Alvarez was pulled over after an officer said he was driving without headlights in Immokalee, Fla., according to an arrest report reviewed by PEOPLE. Alvarez, who was born in Nicaragua, per the arrest report, presented the officer with a picture of his U.S. Employment Authorization Document on his phone when asked to present his driver's license. But a records check conducted by the officer showed that Alvarez had never been issued a U.S. driver's license. Alvarez told the officer he'd been in the country for two and a half years, according to the report. He was then arrested by the Collier County Sheriff's Office for allegedly driving without a valid driver's license, according to the report and court records. A spokesperson for the Collier County Jail confirms to PEOPLE that Alvarez is being held by ICE. An ICE spokesperson says Alvarez entered the country illegally in December 2022 — despite showing police a work authorization document, according to his arrest report — and was subsequently taken into custody this month as part of a partnership between local police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Bail is set at $150. Alvarez will appear in court on July 9. He was previously arrested four times in Lee County for not having a driver's license, the News-Press reported. He either paid fines or had adjudication withheld by judges, the most recent of which issued a D6 license suspension on June 23, according to the outlet. The News-Press also reported that Alvarez was represented by attorney Jose Calvo last year. Calvo did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Just days before his arrest, Alvarez was celebrated for his response to the shark attack. The Boca Grande County Fire Department, Lee County Sheriff's Department and emergency services responded to a call about a "potential shark bite" around 12 p.m. local time on June 11 in Boca Grande, Fla., Boca Grande Fire Chief C.W. Blosser previously said in a video statement. Jay Lendel, the father of the victim, Leah, said that emergency responses arrived in about three minutes. Nearby construction workers including Alvarez also came over to assist the family. Alfonso Tello, who was at the scene, told Gulf Coast News that when he got in the water to help, he saw what appeared to be an 8-foot-long shark. "We saw the little girl coming out of the water with no hand," Tello said, adding, "Everybody was in shock." Leah's family and the construction workers were able to get her to Shore Lane. She was then airlifted to a nearby hospital and underwent an emergency, six-hour surgery to repair her hand. The young girl's mom later confirmed to Gulf Coast News on June 12 that "doctors were able to put her hand back together." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. One of the workers who responded told WFTX about the big role his colleague, Alvarez, played in the rescue. "He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah," Raynel Lugo told the outlet. "He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark." Added Lugo, according to WFTX. "He's a real decent guy." Read the original article on People
The Independent
2 days ago
- The Independent
Good samaritan who saved 9-year-old from shark attack now detained by ICE — facing possible deportation
A good samaritan who sprang into action to help save a nine-year-old girl after a shark attack in Florida is now being held by ICE agents and is at risk of being deported. Luis Alvarez, 31, was one of several men who intervened in the incident, in Boca Grande, in which the child was attacked by a suspected Bull shark while snorkeling near to the shore. Just days after his heroic actions, Alvarez was stopped about 1:30 a.m. on June 14 while driving without his headlights on. When asked for his license, Alvarez gave officers a picture of his Employment Authorization Card on his phone. According to the arrest report, obtained by USA Today, he told the arresting officer in Spanish that he had been in the country for two and a half years and had never had a driver's license. Alvarez, who is originally from Boaco, Nicaragua, was arrested on a charge of driving without a license and issued a warning for not having his headlights on. He is currently being held at the Collier County Jail by ICE, and may be facing deportation. He is scheduled to go before a judge on July 9, according to court records. Though he has no history of arrest in Collier County, court documents show that Alvarez has been arrested on similar charges of not having a valid license four times in nearby Lee County, Florida. He paid fines or had adjudication withheld by three different judges. In the most recent case, however, the judge issues a D6 suspension in June 24, meaning he had not paid his fine and was unable to apply for a license, according to USA Today. On June 9, nine-year-old Leah Lendel was swimming near shore when she was attacked by a shark, which partially severed her hand, her mother, Nadia Lendel, told NBC Miami at the time. "And then she flies out and like I look over, I don't know if I heard a yell or what, but she went that and I see her hand hanging, like a piece and there's blood everywhere," her mother told police through tears. Police body camera footage captured the moments following the horrifying attack, as rescue crews and several men, including Alvarez, came to the girl's aid. The men wrapped the youngster's hand in towels before she was airlifted to a hospital for emergency surgery. According to her family, the surgeons were able to fix her hand, though she will still require therapy in order for her it to function properly again. Raynel Lugo, who also helped during the attack, told Fox4 News that Alvarez went into the water first to scare the shark. "He jumped in that area to bring her out when I was assisting Leah," Lugo told the outlet. "He went deep underwater, not even caring about the shark. He went really deep. He probably faced the shark."
