A Texas resident who supported President Donald Trump has voiced criticism of the Trump administration following the arrest of his Venezuelan fiancée by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Houston last month. John Gannon’s situation reflects a trend where partners of American citizens face arrest by federal agents, even when they initially entered the U.S. legally and have ongoing applications.
Gannon, a 75-year-old Republican and businessman, expressed regret for voting for Trump in 2024. He expressed his dissatisfaction with agents targeting law-abiding individuals and breaking up families. This reaction followed the arrest of his fiancée, Yasmin Suarez Reyes, 45, at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
According to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson, Suarez Reyes entered the U.S. legally on October 24, 2023, but her legal stay expired on January 19, 2024. Pending immigration applications do not provide legal status, and her case is set to be reviewed by an immigration judge.
Details About Yasmin Suarez Reyes
Suarez Reyes initially entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program, also known as an ESTA, due to her dual Spanish and Venezuelan citizenship. This program permits a 90-day stay without a visa. Instead of leaving, she applied for asylum in January 2024, which allowed her to acquire a work permit and a Texas driver’s license during the review process by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In July, during their trip to a furniture convention in Las Vegas, Suarez Reyes was detained by agents.
Gannon Reacts to the Arrest
“After leaving the United room, eight ICE agents surrounded Yasmin and took her,” Gannon recounted to CBS News. “They didn’t explain why and whisked her into a car.”
Asked about his opinion on Trump, Gannon stated, “I wouldn’t vote for him again, not after this mess.” Gannon also shared his frustration, emphasizing the need for law enforcement to focus on criminals rather than breaking up families. Gannon owns over 1,000 billboards in the U.S. and has businesses in Mexico.
Rising Airport Arrests
ICE has increased operations at airports, focusing on immigrants with pending applications who lack full legal status, similar to Suarez Reyes. The Department of Homeland Security notes that such statuses can leave immigrants vulnerable, as their original visas have expired. Immigration attorneys and advocates have criticized the government’s approach, arguing that agents are prioritizing easy targets to increase detention rates.
Suarez Reyes is currently held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas, and is undergoing removal proceedings.