“Why’d you do it? There are multiple other people doing much more illegal stuff. They were just driving home,” Crystal Lopez said about her father and uncle.
HOUSTON — What should have been a joyful milestone for Crystal Lopez turned into heartbreak.
The Houston teen graduated from high school last week, but her father and uncle weren’t there to celebrate.
“I don’t really talk about it because I know I’m going to cry,” Crystal said.
Her father, Felipe De Jesus Lopez Lopez, and uncle, Aristeo Lopez Lopez, were driving back to Houston on May 29 after working as electricians on a school construction project in Beeville, Texas. Crystal said her brother was also in the truck with them when they stopped at a gas station in Goliad County.
Shortly after getting back on the road, the vehicle was pulled over by law enforcement.
“Then, the cop just stopped in front of the truck and waved them down to pull over, and from what I know, the cop was only stopping them for the tint and suspicious tires,” Crystal said.
“Suspicious tires? What does that even mean? Have you ever heard that term before?” KHOU 11 reporter Trason Bragg asked Crystal.
“No, I have not heard that at all,” she replied.
To clarify, Crystal’s father and uncle are undocumented immigrants. But she told KHOU 11 News they have lived and worked in Houston for years, supporting their families and staying out of trouble.
According to Crystal, both men were questioned by Goliad County Sheriff’s Office deputies and detained until Customs and Border Protection arrived and took them into federal custody to begin the deportation process. Neither man received a citation for the alleged vehicle issues, she said.
“Why’d you do it? There are multiple other people doing much more illegal stuff. They were just driving home,” Crystal said.
Their detention has sparked concern within Houston’s immigrant community, especially amid a reported increase in immigration enforcement nationwide. Advocates said more arrests are beginning with routine stops by local law enforcement.
When asked what her father’s absence would mean for her family, Crystal didn’t hesitate.
“It would basically mean that’s the end of our family right there, because he is the backbone of our family. And without him, I don’t see a good future,” Crystal said.
The Lopez family said both men are seeking bond while awaiting upcoming immigration hearings.
KHOU 11 reached out to the Goliad County Sheriff’s Office regarding the traffic stop. Sheriff Roy Boyd told us there was no mention of “suspicious tires” in the official report and added he had never heard the term used before. Boyd said the deputy tested the vehicle’s glass and found the tint exceeded the legal limit. When asked why no citation was issued for the tint, the sheriff said the men must have been given a warning, which is common practice. He also told KHOU 11 that it’s Goliad County Sheriff’s Office procedure to contact Customs and Border Protection whenever they encounter anyone they believe may be in the country illegally, and that his deputies work closely with federal agents. When KHOU 11 attempted to reach Customs and Border Protection for more information on the arrests, CBP referred us to ICE. Our subsequent emails to Immigration and Customs Enforcement with questions have not been returned.