Venezuelan Politician Living in Exile in the US is Detained by ICE

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 6 min read 100% complete by Luis Ferré-Sadurní, Patricia Sulbarán and Isayen HerreraFebruary 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM

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Carlos Roberto García, a former mayor of Mérida, Venezuela, who fled to the United States in 2017 after facing imprisonment for opposing the Maduro regime, was detained by ICE in Cincinnati last month. García, who has been seeking asylum since 2022, fears deportation back to Venezuela, where he believes he will be imprisoned by the existing government officials. His family is concerned for his safety given Venezuela's history of punishing political dissidents. Despite the U.S. capturing Maduro, the country's security apparatus remains. García's case highlights the precarious situation of many Venezuelan asylum seekers facing deportation under the Trump administration, even without criminal records. His lawyers are working to prevent his deportation.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Colombia 40% Mérida ×250% María Gabriela Duarte ×250% Donald Trump ×260% Cincinnati ×360% Nicolás Maduro (Maduro) ×370% Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ×270% United States ×380% Carlos Roberto García ×690% Venezuela ×690%

Keywords

carlos roberto garcía 100% political exile 90% deportation 80% venezuela 80% political dissidents 70% ice detention 70% maduro regime 60% asylum 60% trump administration 50% immigration and customs enforcement 50%