Church members and the community in Easton, Maryland, are rallying around their beloved pastor, Daniel Fuentes Espinal (54), who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week. Since then, friends and family have been comparing the selfless acts for which Espinal was known with the inhumane treatment he faced.
“We reiterate that Pastor Espinal has no criminal record,” said Maryland Reps. Sarah Elfreth and Glenn Ivey.
MD Pastor Arrested by ICE Spends Days ‘Preaching to the Other Detainees’
Pastor Daniel Fuentes Espinal of Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama was arrested by ICE last week, and his community is rising up, demanding his release.
He has no criminal record and was on his way to his second job in construction when authorities took Espinal into custody due to a 25-year expired visa, according to CBS News. Since 2001, he has lived in the U.S., but the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has led to the revocation of expired visas.
“Fuentes entered the United States on a 6-month visa and never left in 24 years,” ICE said in a statement to CNN. “It is a federal crime to overstay the authorized period of time granted under a visitors visa.”
Espinal fled from violence and poverty in his home in Honduras in 2001. The family has been trying to get a green card “for years,” said Len Foxwell, a friend of the family. This “bureaucratic nightmare” has been ongoing “despite having spent a considerable amount of money and time and effort.”
He was on his way to his second job in construction when he was arrested. Espinal’s church isn’t able to pay him, so he is bivocational. Espinal has impacted many people and the community with his generosity. The town of Easton wanted to give back, and a local activist group organized a protest for his release.
“If ICE took your dad, you’d be here,” one protest sign read.
Foxwell has remained in contact with Espinal’s family and said that Espinal remains in “remarkably good spirits.” Foxwell continued, sharing that Espinal’s daughter said, “He’s actually preaching to the other detainees at this facility.”
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“He is known for giving shelter to those who need a place to stay. He opens up his closet and gives food to anyone in need, clothing to anyone at their most vulnerable,” said Foxwell. “He doesn’t ask for anything in return. He’s just one of those people who forms the backbone of any strong, close-knit community like ours.”
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