Another Florida high school student-athlete has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Sebastian Jimenez, a senior at Gainesville High, was detained by ICE agents on Aug. 22 at his apartment alongside his mother, stepfather, and sister. The news was first reported by the Gainesville Sun, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Jimenez is a three-sport athlete at Gainesville High, playing football, soccer and baseball for the Hurricanes. He is key on special teams, serving as the team's starting kicker and punter in Hurricanes' season-opener on Aug. 21.
"It's not about football right now for us," Gainesville football coach Ashour Peera told the Gainesville Sun. "It's about getting him back safely and us doing him proud and giving
the effort that he would want us to have."
According to Peera, the family members were taken to an ICE detention facility in Jacksonville, before Jimenez and his mother were sent to Dilley, Texas, just 70 miles southwest of San Antonio. Jimenez is Venezuelan, along with his mother and sister. His stepfather is Brazilian.
Jimenez is the second known high school athlete from the Sunshine State to be detained. Earlier in August, Port St. Lucie senior Emmanuel Nelson was detained after an officer pulled him over for going 45 mph in a 20 mph zone, and later found that he was a non-U.S. citizen, and that his work permits had expired.
For exclusive reporting, visit Gainesville.com and TCPalm.com.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X at @NP_AlexMartin or via email: amartin@usatodayco.com. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Three-sport Florida high school athlete and his family detained by ICE
