Judge frees Venezuelan family after invalid St. Paul ICE raid; U.S. Attorney apologizes
A federal judge freed a Venezuelan family after an ICE raid in St. Paul was found invalid, and all six members have been returned to their St. Paul home after being detained and flown to two Texas immigration facilities. The father, Joel Campos, says agents accused him of narcotics trafficking and told his 12‑year‑old son he was in the country illegally despite state IDs; an older son says family members at a Texas facility were forced to sleep on the floor without food or showers and were mocked (agents even took a selfie with him), and U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen formally apologized in a court filing, saying the Justice Department regrets how information has been shared.
📌 Key Facts
- Six Venezuelan family members were detained by ICE and flown to two Texas immigration facilities.
- All six family members have been returned to their St. Paul home.
- Father Joel Campos says ICE agents accused him of narcotics trafficking and told his 12‑year‑old son he was in the country illegally despite the family having state‑issued IDs.
- Campos’ older son reported that at a second Texas facility four family members were forced to sleep on the floor without food or showers, and that agents took a selfie with him and mocked him.
- U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen filed a federal court filing formally apologizing to the court, the family and their attorney, saying the Department of Justice "regrets the manner in which information has been shared in this case up until now."
📊 Relevant Data
The Venezuelan immigrant population in the United States grew 318 percent between 2010 and 2023, increasing from approximately 234,000 to 980,000 individuals.
Venezuelan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
ICE arrests of Venezuelans in the Dallas area increased by 400% under the Trump administration, with Venezuelans feeling specifically targeted for arrests and deportations.
Dallas ICE arrests of Venezuelans up 400%, News finds — Dallas News
In a June 2025 immigration raid in Texas, 47 people accused of ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were detained, but months later, authorities provided no evidence of gang connections.
Texas immigration raid raises questions about evidence — Texas Tribune
ICE officers began forcibly entering homes without judicial warrants starting in the summer of 2025, according to administration officials.
ICE has been entering homes without judicial warrants since last summer, sources say — NBC News
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- All six Venezuelan family members have now been returned to their St. Paul home after being detained and flown to two Texas immigration facilities.
- The father, Joel Campos, says ICE agents accused him of narcotics trafficking and told his 12‑year‑old son he was in the country illegally despite the family having state‑issued IDs.
- Campos’ older son reports that four family members at a second Texas facility were forced to sleep on the floor without food or showers, and that agents took a selfie with him and mocked him.
- In a federal court filing, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen formally apologized to the court, the family and their attorney and said DOJ 'regrets the manner in which information has been shared in this case up until now.'