(WACO) On July 24, 2025, ICE agents detained Noe Guerrero, a 33-year-old construction worker and father of three from Waco, setting off protests and a fast-moving legal dispute over what immigration officers may do when criminal charges don’t stick. Although the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed the initial misdemeanor on August 1, 2025, Guerrero remains in federal custody as of early August, held at the Montgomery Processing Center near Houston while he waits for an immigration bond hearing.
Guerrero’s arrest unfolded on a workday in Waco. During the encounter, agents broke the window of his truck, according to people close to the case. ICE first accused him of failing to carry immigration bond documents, a misdemeanor. Those federal charges were dropped a week later, yet detention continued while immigration officials reviewed whether he violated the civil terms of a prior bond tied to his older case.
His attorney and his employer say Guerrero had a valid work permit because he has an open case in immigration court. They also say the documents ICE wanted were in his truck’s center console at the time of the arrest. The current case links back to a 2014 conviction for driving while intoxicated, which placed him into the civil immigration system years ago.
ICE has taken a different view. The agency says Guerrero broke bond rules by engaging in suspected criminal activity and has labeled him a “criminal alien.” Since the misdemeanor count was dismissed, no new formal criminal charges have been announced. That gap between suspicion and proof sits at the heart of the debate now playing out in Waco and beyond.
On August 4, 2025, agents transferred Guerrero to the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, where an immigration judge will consider whether to restore a previous immigration bond and set him free while his court case continues. His supporters say he’s done what officers have asked for years and should be allowed to return to work and to his children while the case moves forward.
Protests have stretched from downtown Waco to the county courthouse. Faith leaders, neighbors, and labor organizers have joined daily gatherings, pressing for release and due process. Among them is McLennan County Democratic Party chair Mark Hays, who argues Guerrero has shown compliance and community ties. Organizers describe him as the kind of worker who builds homes, pays taxes, and keeps steady hours.
Congressman Sessions is monitoring developments, his office said, stressing that due process must guide the outcome. A spokesperson said that if prosecutors bring no new case, Guerrero should be released after the bond hearing. That view mirrors what many in the crowd say they want: a fair hearing and a timely decision.
Detention, Bond, and Disputed Status
Guerrero’s path through the immigration system follows a common pattern when a past conviction leads to civil proceedings. A person may be released on bond while the immigration court evaluates the case. If officers later claim the person broke bond terms, ICE can re-arrest and seek to hold the person until a judge rules.
Here, the dispute is narrow: ICE says bond was broken through suspected conduct; the defense says there’s nothing on the record to justify more detention.
Key dates and status
– Arrest: July 24, 2025 (Waco)
– Misdemeanor dismissed: August 1, 2025 (U.S. Department of Justice)
– Transfer to Conroe: August 4, 2025 (Montgomery Processing Center)
– Current status (early August): In custody, awaiting an immigration bond hearing
For official information about immigration courts, see the Executive Office for Immigration Review at https://www.justice.gov/eoir.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, disputes like this often turn on:
– How ICE applies bond conditions to people with older convictions
– How judges weigh community ties against public safety claims
The stakes go beyond one family in Waco: the decision will shape how other Texas cases are handled when dismissed charges leave only agency suspicion on the table.
Wider Questions on Enforcement and Community Impact
The case has reopened questions about arrest tactics and detention choices. Supporters point to the broken truck window as an example of force that felt unnecessary during a misdemeanor stop. ICE officials say their priority is public safety and compliance with federal law. Those two frames—community trust versus enforcement control—often collide in the field, and this week they’re colliding in plain sight.
Community and family impacts
– Advocates say most immigrant workers they meet are focused on steady jobs and raising kids.
– They argue that long detention after charges are dropped punishes families without making streets safer.
– For Guerrero’s three children, each extra day in custody means another day without a parent at home.
– For employers, his detention causes delays on construction sites amid existing labor shortages.
What the immigration court can do
1. Hear the bond petition.
2. Decide whether to reinstate the prior bond or keep detention in place.
3. If bond is restored, typically impose conditions such as:
– Regular check-ins
– Strict address reporting requirements
If detention continues, Guerrero would stay in Conroe until his immigration case is resolved.
Local leaders are using the moment to press for clarity, asking:
– What evidence should justify labeling someone a “criminal alien” when no new charges are filed?
– How long should the government hold a worker with a valid permit while court schedules are set?
– What role should community support play when bond decisions are made?
Community groups in Waco and McLennan County are providing advocacy and legal support as he remains at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas. Congressional offices are also watching, adding another layer of oversight to how ICE manages the case. Local legal aid attorneys are preparing for the bond hearing to support transparency for families watching.
A bond ruling can decide family life. For Guerrero, the judge’s choice—release under conditions or continued detention—will determine whether he returns to Waco or remains in Conroe awaiting the next hearing.
This Article in a Nutshell
When charges dropped, community reaction grew. Noe Guerrero, a 33-year-old worker, remains detained pending an immigration bond hearing. Supporters protest, citing valid work permit and family ties. ICE alleges bond violations tied to suspected criminal activity. The bond ruling will decide whether he returns home or remains in detention awaiting immigration resolution.
