Migrant Justice leader and stepdaughter in U.S. illegally, Border Patrol says

RICHFORD, Vt. (WCAX) – Migrant Justice leader Jose Ignacio De La Cruz and his stepdaughter Heidy Perez remain in custody after Border Patrol detained them Saturday.

Border Patrol said in a statement to WCAX that De La Cruz and Perez are both citizens of Mexico, and have no legal immigration status in the United States.

They said agents pulled over 29-year-old De La Cruz, and 18-year-old Perez for suspicious border activity near the United States/Canada border in Richford.

Agents say the two refused to answer the agents’ questions and would not roll down the car’s windows.

In the process, agents said they were forced to break the window, taking De La Cruz and Perez into custody.

CBP said they later discovered both individuals were citizens of Mexico, and have no legal immigration status in the United States. Both remain in custody pending removal proceedings.

De La Cruz, also known as “Nacho” is part of Migrant Justice’s Coordinating Committee, and a former dairy worker.

Perez graduated from Milton High School not even a week ago.

Migrant Justice sent WCAX a statement, calling the arrest “an attack on Vermont’s immigrant community and a violation of their human rights.”

An emergency rally was organized for them outside the Richford Border Patrol barracks on Saturday.

Attorneys have filed an emergency petition with Vermont Federal District Court for “Nacho”, and will soon do the same for Perez in the Northern District of New York.

Another rally to free De La Cruz and Perez is scheduled for Monday evening at 6:30 on the Vermont State House lawn.

“Nacho” is being held at Northwest State Correctional Facility in Swanton, and Perez at the Clinton County jail in Plattsburgh.

Copyright 2025 WCAX. All rights reserved.