Gennadiy Glushchuk, a Christian pastor in Los Angeles, was detained by ICE agents in mid-June 2025 during a routine immigration check-in. He was on his way to help his pregnant niece when officers stopped him downtown Los Angeles. Glushchuk, who moved to the United States 🇺🇸 from the former Soviet Union in 2009 at age 10, has lived under supervised release for over 15 years. His detention highlights the strict enforcement of immigration laws, even when family emergencies are involved.
Glushchuk lost his green card after serving a 13-year prison sentence for armed robbery. Although he was allowed to stay in the country because Ukraine would not accept his return, he now faces possible deportation. He is currently held in an ICE detention facility in El Paso, Texas. His wife, Yekaterina, is pleading for mercy, asking authorities to allow monitored visits or release so he can be home for the birth of their third child in early July 2025. She says, “He is a reformed man. This detention has no clear explanation or resolution.”
ICE agents often detain people with immigration violations, including those with criminal records or who have overstayed their visas. According to ICE officials, “Detentions are based on immigration violations such as visa overstays or criminal history.” The case of Gennadiy Glushchuk is not unique. In Maryland, another pastor, Daniel Fuentes Espinal, was detained by ICE on July 21, 2025, for overstaying his visa by 25 years, even though he has no criminal record. Community leaders and families are calling for more compassionate policies, especially for those with strong family ties and no recent offenses.
Detention facilities are often far from families, making visits difficult. For families like the Glushchuks, this separation adds stress during important life events. Community groups and legal aid organizations are stepping in to help. They organize fundraising and advocacy campaigns to support families and push for monitored release in humanitarian cases.
What can families do if a loved one is detained?
– Get legal help: Find an immigration attorney to file for bond or humanitarian parole.
– Submit family petitions: Ask for deferred action or other relief based on family needs.
– Request medical or humanitarian release: Explain family emergencies, like childbirth, to ICE.
– Attend hearings: Go to immigration court to contest removal or seek relief.
Legal experts say humanitarian parole is possible but rarely granted. Strong legal advocacy and public support can help, but there are no guarantees. As reported by VisaVerge.com, family petitions and community advocacy can influence ICE decisions, but release is not certain.
No new policy changes in 2024-2025 have made exceptions for pastors or family emergencies in ICE detention. Immigration reform debates continue, but no immediate changes are expected. Families can check the ICE Detainee Locator for updates and bond information.
For now, families like Gennadiy Glushchuk’s must rely on legal aid, community support, and hope for a more compassionate approach. Advocacy may lead to pilot programs for monitored release, but the process remains slow and uncertain.
Learn Today
ICE → U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency enforcing immigration laws and detaining immigrants.
Green Card → A permanent resident card allowing immigrants to live and work legally in the U.S.
Supervised Release → A legal status where immigrants must regularly check in with authorities instead of being free.
Humanitarian Parole → Temporary permission to enter or stay in the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasons.
Deferred Action → Discretionary postponement of deportation granted to immigrants with certain circumstances.
This Article in a Nutshell
In June 2025, ICE detained Pastor Gennadiy Glushchuk in Los Angeles amid strict immigration enforcement. Despite family emergencies, detainees face separation from loved ones. Legal aid and community support provide hope, yet compassionate release remains rare. Cases highlight immigration law’s harsh impact on families with criminal histories or visa violations.
— By VisaVerge.com
