On July 28, 2025, Sonny Lasquite, a Filipino immigrant and green card holder who has lived in the U.S. for 23 years, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina upon returning from a vacation in the Bahamas. The detention stemmed from a 2012 narcotics conviction, reigniting debates about the vulnerability of long-term legal residents to deportation. Lasquite, who cooperated with authorities at the time and has had no further legal issues, is currently held at the Stewart Detention Center in Georgia. His family, reliant on him as the primary breadwinner, launched a GoFundMe to cover legal fees, raising nearly $11,600 by August 11, 2025. The case underscores tensions between strict immigration policies and their human toll, particularly on families dependent on detained individuals for financial and emotional support. It also highlights concerns over medical neglect in detention facilities, with reports of delayed access to Lasquite’s blood pressure medication.
Lasquite’s detention reflects a broader intensification of ICE operations under the current administration, which has prioritized deportations and immigration status reviews. His family and friends describe him as a dedicated community member and caregiver to his elderly mother, whose health has deteriorated due to the stress of his detention. The GoFundMe campaign emphasizes his contributions as a law-abiding resident since his conviction, raising questions about the fairness of targeting long-term residents for past offenses. Immigration experts stress the importance of pursuing U.S. citizenship to avoid such risks, as naturalized citizens are protected from deportation for prior convictions.
- Past conviction: Lasquite was convicted in 2012 for distributing Schedule IV narcotics but cooperated fully, resulting in a sentence of time served.
- Family impact: As the primary provider, his detention threatens his family’s financial stability, particularly his mother’s medical care.
- Detention conditions: Reports indicate delays in medical care, including access to essential medications.
- Community response: The GoFundMe campaign reflects strong support, portraying Lasquite as a beloved and selfless individual.
Stricter immigration enforcement
The detention of Lasquite is part of a broader crackdown on immigration in 2025, with ICE increasing its operations nationwide. Data from the Deportation Data Project at UC Berkeley shows that ICE conducted over 95,000 administrative arrests between January and June 2025, averaging nearly 1,000 detentions daily. Notably, 47% of detainees in some regions had no criminal convictions, a significant rise from previous years. Executive Order 14-159, signed on January 25, 2025, expanded ICE’s authority to collaborate with local law enforcement and monitor workplaces, churches, and even social media activity for immigration violations.
Employers now face fines of up to $300,000 per undocumented worker, discouraging the hiring of immigrants. The integration of IRS and USCIS databases has also intensified scrutiny of immigrants’ economic activities. Lasquite’s case, triggered by a federal system flag from his 2012 conviction, exemplifies how past offenses can resurface to disrupt lives years later, even for those who have rebuilt their reputations and contributed to their communities.
- Expanded authority: ICE now collaborates with local agencies and uses digital surveillance to track visa overstays.
- Heavy fines: Employers face steep penalties, impacting immigrant employment opportunities.
- Data integration: IRS and USCIS data-sharing targets economic activities of immigrants.
- Social media monitoring: Online activity is increasingly used to identify immigration violations.
Community mobilization and legal challenges
Lasquite’s detention has sparked outrage among his family, friends, and the Filipino community in Las Vegas, where he worked as a banquet server. The GoFundMe, launched by Vivian Hirano, portrays him as a devoted son and community member, raising funds for legal representation and family support. By August 11, 2025, the campaign had collected $11,600 from 56 donors, highlighting the community’s determination to fight for his release. His mother’s declining health and his own medical neglect in detention have added urgency to the effort.
Immigration attorney Rosanna Berardi emphasized that such cases are not uncommon but preventable through naturalization. She noted that green card holders remain vulnerable to deportation for certain convictions, regardless of their time in the U.S. or community contributions. Berardi urged eligible immigrants to pursue citizenship, which offers protection against removal. Community organizations are also stepping in, providing low-cost legal aid and guidance for families facing similar situations.
- Fundraising efforts: The GoFundMe has raised significant funds to support Lasquite’s legal battle.
- Legal advice: Experts recommend citizenship to safeguard against deportation risks.
- Community support: Friends and family rally to highlight Lasquite’s positive contributions.
- Health concerns: Detention conditions have raised alarms about medical neglect.
ICE operations under scrutiny
The case coincides with a significant escalation in ICE activities, with the agency’s budget increasing from $8 billion to $28 billion in 2025. This funding has enabled the hiring of additional agents and the deployment of advanced surveillance tools, such as the ImmigrationOS system developed by Palantir. On July 13, 2025, ICE held 56,816 detainees, with 71% lacking criminal convictions, according to the Deportation Data Project. This shift has drawn criticism from advocates who argue that targeting non-criminal immigrants undermines community stability.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the operations, denying claims of detaining non-criminals. However, data from regions like Washington D.C. and Dallas show a sharp rise in such detentions, with non-criminal detainees increasing from 18% to 30% in Dallas alone. The use of technologies like ImmigrationOS to track visa overstays has further expanded ICE’s reach, raising privacy concerns among advocates.
- Budget surge: ICE’s $28 billion budget has fueled aggressive enforcement.
- Surveillance tech: ImmigrationOS tracks immigrants’ movements and activities.
- Non-criminal detentions: Over 70% of detainees in July 2025 had no criminal record.
- Regional disparities: Detention patterns vary, with Dallas and D.C. seeing sharp increases.
Human rights concerns
Human rights organizations, including the ACLU and RAICES, have criticized ICE’s actions as disproportionate, particularly in cases like Lasquite’s, where long-term residents face deportation for past, non-violent offenses. The practice of deporting immigrants to countries other than their origin, such as Venezuelans sent to El Salvador, has also drawn condemnation. A May 2025 Supreme Court ruling temporarily revoked legal status for 532,000 immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, pending further review, intensifying fears within immigrant communities.
The lack of transparency in ICE’s data complicates efforts to assess the full scope of these policies. Advocates argue that detaining productive residents like Lasquite destabilizes communities and disregards their contributions. The conditions in detention centers, including reported medical neglect, have further fueled calls for reform and greater oversight of ICE’s operations.
- Humanitarian critiques: Groups like ACLU decry the harsh treatment of detainees.
- Supreme Court ruling: 532,000 immigrants face potential status revocation.
- Data opacity: Inconsistent ICE reporting hinders policy evaluation.
- Community impact: Detentions disrupt families and local economies.
Pathways to protection
Experts urge green card holders to pursue U.S. citizenship as a safeguard against deportation, given the vulnerabilities exposed by cases like Lasquite’s. Community organizations offer resources for navigating the naturalization process and preparing for legal challenges. The GoFundMe campaign for Lasquite illustrates the power of collective action, but it also underscores the financial and emotional burdens faced by families. Advocates are pushing for broader immigration reform to address outdated laws that allow deportations for minor or old convictions.
Lasquite’s case remains pending, with his legal team exploring options to challenge his removal. The outcome will likely depend on immigration statutes that treat certain drug-related convictions as grounds for deportation, highlighting the need for systemic changes to protect long-term residents.
- Citizenship as shield: Naturalization protects against deportation risks.
- Community resources: Nonprofits provide legal aid and emergency planning.
- Reform calls: Advocates seek updates to outdated immigration laws.
- Legal battles: Lasquite’s case hinges on challenging strict statutes.