Rising country music artist Frank Ray is speaking out after his brother-in-law was detained by ICE at El Paso International Airport on Thanksgiving Day.
Juan Nevarez, traveling with his 16-year-old son to Nashville to see Ray perform at the Grand Ole Opry’s Christmas Country event, was stopped by TSA and subsequently taken into ICE custody. Nevarez presented a valid work permit, renewed in March for five years. “We had plans to do all the touristy things—go out on Broadway, check out the Country Music Hall of Fame, go to the Grand Ole Opry,” Ray said.
Nevarez, married to Ray’s sister, a U.S. citizen, has lived in the country for nearly two decades. Ray emphasized that his brother-in-law has no criminal record, is a business owner, and has a pending green card application.
“He has flown before and believed his documentation was sufficient. To get to TSA and be told it wasn’t valid anymore was a complete shock. He was obviously very frightened,” Ray said.
Under the Obama administration, Nevarez’s immigration case had been deemed low priority and administratively closed, a policy that focused resources on immigrants with serious criminal records. Under the Trump administration, immigration enforcement has broadened to include those without criminal records and allows previously closed cases to be reopened.
Ray, a former police officer turned country singer, said he felt compelled to speak out despite potential risks to his music career.
“As a public figure, it’s anybody’s responsibility to stand up for what you believe in and for what you think is right,” he said.
Ray said his decision to go public was driven by his protective instincts toward his family.
“It’s my sister, my little sister, and I want to support her and protect her. If there’s one thing true in country music, it’s that family is everything,” he said.
He also pointed to the wider issue affecting the Latino community, saying many live with a daily fear of family separation.
“As a believer, I think we need to soften our hearts, open our arms, and treat others as we would want to be treated. At the end of the day, love your neighbor. Right now, I don’t think we’re doing a good job of that,” Ray said.
Nevarez is currently being held at the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral, New Mexico, under an ICE detention hold, according to the agency’s online detainee database.