Immigrant with Green Card Returned from Vacation after 23 Years in the U.S., ICE Was Already Waiting

ICE detains legal resident

Arrest after returning from vacation

Family seeks financial support

According to Newsweek, a Filipino immigrant with permanent residency in the United States was detained by immigration authorities upon returning from a vacation in the Bahamas.

Sonny Lasquite, a lawful permanent resident with a Green Card for more than two decades, was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on July 28 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.

The detention was due to a federal system alert linked to a 2012 narcotics case, according to records reviewed by Newsweek.

Lasquite is currently in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Stewart Detention Center in Stewart County, Georgia.

A long-term resident

ICE detains legal resident with Green Card – PHOTO: GoFundMe

According to his family, Lasquite has lived in the United States for 23 years, working as a banquet waiter in Las Vegas.

In 2012, he was prosecuted in the Southern District of New York for possession and distribution of Schedule IV controlled substances, such as diazepam and alprazolam.

Court records show that he immediately took responsibility and cooperated with the government to identify accomplices, which led to additional arrests and prosecutions.

Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara acknowledged his cooperation in 2014, stating that he had taken risks and deserved a sentence proportionately lighter than that of other defendants.

Sentence served and a new life

ICE detains legal resident PHOTO: GoFundMe

The court sentenced him to time served, with no additional prison term, and imposed a $200 fine.

Since then, Lasquite has had no further legal issues and has led a quiet, community-oriented life, according to those close to him.

His family and friends say he is the primary financial and emotional support for his elderly mother.

The arrest has severely affected the woman’s health, while in detention, delays in access to his medication and medical care have been reported.

Campaign for Sonny Lasquite’s legal defense

ICE detains legal resident PHOTO: GoFundMe

On Saturday, his loved ones launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $30,000 for his legal defense and essential expenses.

As of Monday, the initiative had collected about $11,600 from 56 donations.

In the fundraising page, organizer Vivian Hirano describes Lasquite as a generous, hardworking man always willing to help.

“Sonny is more than a name: he is a son, brother, uncle, and friend who has touched countless lives,” Hirano’s message reads.

A case reflecting a broader issue

Immigration experts warn that cases like Lasquite’s are not new.

Attorney Rosanna Berardi told Newsweek that lawful permanent residents remain vulnerable to deportation proceedings for certain drug-related offenses, regardless of how much time has passed since the conviction.

Berardi recommended that permanent residents apply for citizenship as soon as possible to avoid legal risks such as deportation.

The case has also reignited debate over the consequences of old convictions and the impact on families who rely on these immigrants for their livelihood.

Official response

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem denied that ICE detains immigrants without criminal records.

In recent statements, she said some state leaders are “obstructing the removal of dangerous criminals” and defended federal authorities’ actions.

However, Lasquite’s family insists his case is different, as he served his sentence and has lived without legal incidents for over a decade.

The defense is seeking to stop his deportation, arguing that his removal would have a severe humanitarian impact on his mother and community.

What comes next for Sonny Lasquite

The case remains open as Lasquite continues in custody.

His legal options are limited by immigration laws that classify certain controlled substance convictions as grounds for mandatory deportation.

His family hopes that fundraising and public pressure will improve his chances of remaining in the United States.

“Sonny has paid his debt to society and deserves to continue his life here, where he has built his home and family,” Hirano concluded.