Bryan Jose Rojas Galofre, a 34-year-old Venezuelan immigrant, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on January 27, 2025, after approaching Trump National Doral hotel in Florida with his wife, a 22-year-old U.S. citizen and Trump supporter. What began as a honeymoon outing turned into a more than three-month detention that left the family with over $80,000 in debt and an immigration hearing scheduled for 2028.
Rojas had taken his wife Socorro Zaragosa to the president’s hotel as part of their honeymoon. Zaragosa had expressed her support for President Trump and wanted to visit the property. At a security checkpoint near the hotel, Secret Service agents and Doral police searched their vehicle and found an airsoft gun and a marijuana grinder.
The Detention and Its Immediate Aftermath
Following the vehicle search, both Rojas and Zaragosa were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. The couple pleaded not guilty, and the criminal case remains open. However, while Zaragosa was released, Rojas was taken into ICE custody.
Rojas described the moments after his arrest: “They pulled me out of the car, they checked my tattoos, they started asking if I belonged to a gang, they took photos of me and put me under review to see if I was linked to terrorism. At that time, the news surrounding the Tren de Aragua gang was making major headlines.”
Rojas faced gang affiliation accusations due to his tattoos. He was transferred to the Federal Detention Center in Miami, where he would spend nearly three months in custody.
Life Inside Federal Detention
Rojas recounted the conditions he experienced during his detention. “It is a federal prison where they would put you on lockdown for four or five days at a time — unable to speak with your family, eating food slid under the door and deprived of basic necessities. I was terrified, because someone actually died inside there. There were fights. What I felt while imprisoned was an overwhelming sense of loneliness, anguish and despair.”
During the period from April to July 2025, an elevator failure at the Federal Detention Center in Miami compounded the difficult conditions for detainees.
Zaragosa, who was left alone with their young son, described her anguish during this period. “I thought that was it — that my family was over. I thought I would wake up one day and find that I had lost him, that I would be left all alone with my son.”
What We Know So Far
Rojas arrived in the United States in September 2021 during the Biden administration. Before his detention, he worked at a brake disc factory in Wisconsin as a line supervisor, earning $29 per hour. He married Zaragosa in September 2024.
On April 18, 2025, Immigration Judge Scott G. Alexander granted Rojas bond, setting it at $15,000. Despite winning his bond hearing, Rojas was not released immediately. His attorney Tahimi Rengifo explained: “People operate under the assumption that once they win their hearing, they will be released immediately. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.”
Rojas was finally released from detention on May 6, 2025.
Rengifo provided additional context about the case: “Bryan had no criminal record whatsoever; he hadn’t committed any crime. He had a pending legal proceeding that, under any previous administration, would not have been an issue. But under this administration, all these small details — the tattoo, the grinder, the BB gun — combined to create a situation that escalated significantly.”
What Happens Next
Rojas’s next immigration hearing is scheduled for 2028, reflecting the significant backlog in the immigration court system. According to available data, immigration courts have a backlog of over 3.38 million active cases, and the average asylum case takes more than four years to resolve.
In April 2026, Rojas filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties regarding his treatment.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement referencing Secretary Markwayne Mullin: “Under President Trump and Secretary Mullin, criminal illegal aliens are not welcome in the U.S.”
Rojas’s work permit expired during his detention and was not renewed, leaving his ability to work legally in question.
Financial and Personal Toll on the Family
The detention has devastated the family financially and personally. They lost their house and car, Rojas depleted his 401(k) retirement savings, and accumulated debts exceeding $80,000.
The couple now has two children, including a 2-month-old baby girl. Rojas’s mother, Bernarda Galofre, also lost approximately $2,000 to a scam during this difficult period.
Rojas reflected on his situation: “In the end, it was a bad decision.” He added: “I am in an immigration limbo that I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
Despite everything, Zaragosa maintains her political stance. “I’m his fan. I believe Trump is a good president,” she said. However, she added: “What he is doing to migrants isn’t fair. What happened to my family wasn’t fair.”
A Message to the Government
Rojas offered a direct appeal: “I would tell Mr. President — and the United States government — to show a little compassion toward the people who truly are doing things right in this country. I arrived with a desire to work; I arrived with a desire to do things the right way.”
Attorney Johan Gutierrez signed the bond motion that helped secure Rojas’s release. Other officials mentioned in connection with the case include Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Border czar Tom Homan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Bryan Rojas detained by ICE?
Rojas was detained on January 27, 2025, after Secret Service and Doral police found an airsoft gun and marijuana grinder in his vehicle at a security checkpoint near Trump National Doral hotel. He also faced gang affiliation questions due to his tattoos.
How long was Rojas held in detention?
Rojas spent more than three months in ICE custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. He was granted bond on April 18, 2025, and released on May 6, 2025.
When is Rojas’s next immigration hearing?
His next immigration hearing is scheduled for 2028, reflecting the extensive backlog in immigration courts, which currently exceeds 3.38 million active cases.
What charges does Rojas face?
Rojas and his wife were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. Both pleaded not guilty, and the criminal case remains open.
The case of Bryan Jose Rojas Galofre illustrates the complex intersection of immigration enforcement, security protocols, and the personal consequences families face when caught in the immigration system. With his hearing years away and his work authorization status uncertain, Rojas and his family continue to navigate the challenges of what he described as immigration limbo.
