Port Chester firefighter detained by ICE over 2004 deportation order

(PORT CHESTER, NY) Immigration officers detained Milton Guamarrigra, a longtime Port Chester resident and volunteer firefighter, on August 5, 2025, enforcing a decades-old deportation order as he left for work. Agents handcuffed him in front of his family and neighbors, according to relatives and local officials. He was transferred to the Calhoun County Correctional Center in Michigan, where he remains in custody as of August 13, 2025.

The case has galvanized this Hudson Valley community, which is pressing federal officials to release him while his attorneys seek legal relief.

Family, community ties, and immediate impact

Guamarrigra has lived in the United States for nearly 30 years, working as a marble installer and volunteering with the Port Chester Fire Department for the past seven years.

• His wife and three children, including his daughter Joselyn, say they are struggling emotionally and financially without him.
• “We don’t know what will happen next,” Joselyn told supporters at a gathering last week, describing the fear her siblings felt watching their father taken away.

Local leaders and community groups have acted quickly:

• The mayor’s office and the Port Chester Fire Department have sent letters to federal agencies asking for his release and a chance for him to resolve his case from home.
• Community groups held a public meeting on August 7 to plan next steps.
• The firehouse has organized support for the family and is coordinating with village officials.

Supporters describe Guamarrigra as a quiet, steady presence who helps neighbors in crisis and trains alongside career firefighters.

Conflicting records and ICE confirmation

The government’s position rests on an active removal order from the mid-2000s. On August 11, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to the press that Guamarrigra is detained under a 2004 deportation order and declined to provide further details.

There are conflicting accounts in public reporting:

• Earlier reports cited past DWI charges and suggested a 2006 order.
• Family members and advocates say he has no criminal record or history of violence.

Those accounts could not be reconciled with available public records, and ICE has not responded to follow-up questions about the case history.

Federal law allows ICE to act on an old order at any time, even after many years of residence. There has been no new federal policy in 2025 that would automatically pause deportations for people with prior orders.

Advocates continue to urge broader use of prosecutorial discretion—the agency’s choice to pause or close a case—when a person has deep community ties and no recent arrests. Analysis by VisaVerge.com reports that ICE has continued to carry out older orders, including for long-term residents who never completed a path to legal status.

Transfer to Michigan and logistical challenges

Guamarrigra’s transfer to Michigan places his case under the ICE Detroit Field Office, which oversees the Calhoun County facility.

This step creates added difficulties for the family and legal team:

• Distance complicates legal visits and court preparation.
• Travel costs and logistical burdens are mounting, according to Joselyn and her mother.
• The children fear their father could be deported without a chance to say goodbye.

Supporters are compiling letters from employers, faith leaders, and local officials to send to federal contacts, asking ICE to consider his years of service and allow him to wait at home while lawyers pursue options.

Community members emphasize they want a fair review, not special treatment, and stress that keeping families together supports public safety.

Legal paths and policy context

For people with a final deportation order, the law offers limited but real tools. None are automatic; each requires careful documentation by attorneys.

Key legal tools include:

1. Motion to Reopen
   • A request to the immigration court or the Board of Immigration Appeals to review a case again.
   • Often based on new evidence or legal error.
   • No standard form—attorneys file a written motion with supporting proof and legal citations.
2. Stay of Removal
   • A request asking ICE to temporarily halt deportation while a case is reviewed.
   • Individuals can apply with Form I-246 Application for a Stay of Deportation or Removal.
   • Form and filing guidance available on the ICE website: https://www.ice.gov/forms/i-246.
3. Family-Based Relief
   • If a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident relative can sponsor the person, lawyers may pursue a family petition and, in some cases, adjustment of status.
   • Starts with Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/i-130.
   • If eligible, the person may later file Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (USCIS): https://www.uscis.gov/i-485.
   • People with a prior order need tailored legal advice; some options require reopening the case first.
4. Prosecutorial Discretion
   • ICE may decide, based on humanitarian and public interest factors, to pause removal, release someone from custody, or join a motion to reopen.
   • Advocates in Port Chester are urging this step, pointing to Guamarrigra’s volunteer service and the harm to his children.

In Guamarrigra’s case, relatives say he was working toward a citizenship application before the arrest. Because naturalization requires lawful permanent resident status, attorneys will likely focus first on reopening the old order or securing interim relief that keeps him with his family while longer-term options are explored.

Practical next steps (recommended)

For families and community leaders handling similar situations:

• Hire an experienced immigration attorney immediately.
• Gather proof of community ties and good conduct (employment, letters, volunteer records).
• Submit a well-documented request for prosecutorial discretion or a stay of removal.
• Coordinate community support for bills, childcare, and transportation to reduce pressure on the family.

Policy advocates note a persistent gap: local communities depend on long-term residents, yet outdated records can trigger sudden detention. There has been no new federal law in 2025 addressing that tension, and Congressional calls to simplify status fixes for long-settled immigrants have not advanced. According to VisaVerge.com, outcomes often hinge on legal counsel, field office practices, and the quality of community support.

Contacts and how supporters can help

Those seeking to contact the field office that covers the Calhoun County Correctional Center can find official contact details here: https://www.ice.gov/contact/ero.

Supporters in Port Chester say they will keep calling, writing, and showing up until they know whether Milton Guamarrigra will come home while his case is reviewed.