A 58-year-old Venezuelan journalist was reunited with his family after being released from Krome detention centre, according to his account, following more than two weeks in immigration custody. Wilmer Solano was freed after posting a $5,000 bond ordered by an immigration judge.
Solano said that Border Patrol agents detained him on 26 July whilst working as an Uber driver in the Haulover Beach area. According to his version of events, an agent asked if he was Venezuelan and informed him that he had exceeded his visa time, without providing further details.
The detainee indicated that he spent three days at a facility in Dania Beach before being transferred to Krome, where he remained for approximately 15 days. Solano said that an agent told him he had to appear before a judge because his immigration case was still pending, according to accounts from agents who told him that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service was not fulfilling its function.
Solano maintained that he arrived in the United States in 2015 and has had an asylum case pending since then. According to him, he has work permission, a Social Security number and identification.
His lawyer, Arno Lemus, said that Solano has no criminal record. Both provided media with a court order establishing the $5,000 bond, following payment of which Solano was released.
