Houston-Area Pastor Detained by ICE at George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Luis Morales, a Houston-area pastor, was detained by ICE agents at George Bush Intercontinental Airport while attempting to travel to New York with his wife. Morales, who leads four Adventist churches in the Houston area, came to the United States from Venezuela with his wife, Karina, and their two daughters in 2020. The family initially entered on tourist visas and subsequently applied for asylum. According to ICE, Morales legally entered the U.S. in January 2020 but was required to depart by July of the same year. Although he later received Temporary Protected Status (TPS), this protection was revoked in November 2025. His wife, Karina Morales, stated that their asylum case is still pending, and they had not received any deportation orders prior to his detention. Morales is currently being held at an ICE detention center in Livingston. 
