Texas citizen deported after traffic stop sparks debate over local ICE cooperation

While installing air conditioners in Texas, Brian José Morales García was stopped by a state trooper near Fredericksburg and subsequently handed over to immigration authorities, who deported him to Mexico even though he is a U.S. citizen. After four months abroad, the federal government reached a settlement with his lawyers allowing his return to Austin, where he plans to resume work supporting family in both the United States and Mexico.

Morales, who does not speak English and holds dual Mexican citizenship, says he offered his Social Security card and birth certificate at the stop but was denied the chance to show them. His attorney argues the incident reflects racial profiling by police cooperating with ICE, a practice that has expanded across Texas under state law requiring most sheriffs to partner with federal immigration enforcement. Critics warn that local officers lack the training to navigate complex immigration statutes, increasing the risk of similar errors.