LIBERTY COUNTY, Texas — United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it made more than 100 arrests in a Houston-area development this week.
Officials in Washington said 118 people were arrested during an operation in Colony Ridge, which is north of Houston.
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On Wednesday, family members of one of the men who was arrested said he has a clean record and they feel like his business was a target.
Alejandra Morales is begging for help as she’s left with a broken heart.
“Sentí que mi mundo se acababa el es el sostén de mi casa,” Morales said.
Morales said her husband, Erik Payan, is a good man and the breadwinner of their household and felt like her world was ending when ICE agents rolled up to his tire shop earlier this week.
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When asked if they were shown an arrest warrant, Morales said the agents only had photos of businesses which included Payan’s tire shop.
“No, nada más llevan foto de la llantera y de otros negocios,” she said.
She’s left wondering why her husband was rounded up and they just wanted to be valuable members of society.
“Queremos aportar a este país,” Morales said.
She said she feels that business owners help the country and she doesn’t understand why he was targeted.
“Nunca ha pisado una cárcel siempre ha tenido un buen comportamiento,” Morales said.
She said he’s never been to jail and never caused any problems.
Records show that Payan was charged with DUI and aggravated assault 20 years ago but the charges were dismissed and the cases were closed.
Morales said her husband was a passenger in a vehicle that crashed and he was left in a coma. She said that when investigators found out he was a passenger who was asleep, the charges went away.
Now, his family is doing everything they can to get Payan back.
His daughter is in the hospital getting her leg amputated and Payan is also paying the medical bills for his grandchild who just had heart surgery.
Morales hopes the family’s main source of income can come home soon.
Records show that Payan entered the country with a work visa and overstayed.
KHOU 11 News reached out to ICE in Houston to find out if there was an arrest warrant for Payan and we’re waiting to hear back.
In the meantime, Morales said she hired an attorney but she feels lost without his financial help and isn’t sure how she’s going to take care of her family while he’s gone.