Local Officials Mobilize for Release of Detained Young Man in Texas
CHINA GROVE, Texas – Following the arrest of 20-year-old Hebert Calles Ybarra Castro by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on June 25, local lawmakers are actively working to secure his release and facilitate his return home.
His wife, Marisol Pantosi, reported that Ybarra Castro was apprehended while he was driving in China Grove. According to an ICE spokesperson, agency records suggest that he entered the United States illegally, although Pantosi asserts that he initially arrived legally on a B-2 visa, which expired in 2020.
“He came here on a B-2 visa when he was just 4 years old,” Pantosi explained. “He fled violence in Monterrey, Mexico.” This past traumatic experience resonates deeply with Ybarra Castro’s mother, who shared a poignant statement recounting her own harrowing escape from a Mexican cartel 16 years ago.
State Rep. Barbara Garvin Hawkins, who represents the district that includes Ybarra Castro, expressed her determination to collaborate with fellow lawmakers to assist in his case. “These individuals are simply trying to live their lives. The impact on our community is severe; children are skipping school, and the emotional toll is significant,” she noted.
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-San Antonio) has also publicly supported efforts to bring Ybarra Castro back home through social media channels. Pantosi revealed that they are working toward obtaining a green card, but she acknowledges that the process is daunting and time-consuming.
Recently, Pantosi was asked to sing the national anthem at the South Texas detention center where Ybarra Castro is being held. He described the moment as surreal, particularly reflecting on the irony of singing “the song of the land of the free while being treated like an animal.” Ybarra Castro is hoping to return home soon, with a scheduled hearing the week of July 6.
Investigation into ICE Operations in China Grove
On the day of the arrest, KSAT captured video footage of a separate immigration-related traffic stop in China Grove. The video shows multiple marked police units arriving at the scene, followed by an unmarked vehicle with lights activated. A handcuffed man was then taken into custody and placed in the back seat of the unmarked car.
In response to inquiries about the arrest, an ICE spokesperson indicated that due to a high volume of operations, they could not immediately provide details on enforcement actions. They also mentioned that video evidence would be necessary to verify the specifics of the operation.
“This was not ICE,” clarified a spokesperson after reviewing the footage. However, the China Grove Police Department later issued a statement confirming that ICE had been contacted during the stop, and any subsequent enforcement actions were conducted by the agency.
KSAT sought clarification from ICE later that evening regarding the initial miscommunication about the nature of the arrest, but did not receive a response before the article’s publication date.
