An Oklahoma family is devastated after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shattered a car window and detained Noe Chavez, a longtime resident of the U.S., while he and his son made a quick stop at a Dollar General.
“I reached out for my husband, and he wasn’t there,” said Vanessa Chavez, Noe’s wife. “I just want him to be back with us.”
Noe has lived in Oklahoma for over 20 years, married to Vanessa for most of that time, and together they’ve raised four children. Vanessa said Noe was nearing the final steps of obtaining his green card, including recently getting fingerprinted.
Surprise Detainment During Routine Errand
On Saturday, while 19-year-old Andrew Chavez was driving his father to the store, an unmarked vehicle blocked their car in the parking lot. Men approached and asked for ID. Andrew handed over his Chickasaw tribal card, which he believes spared him from being detained too.
“I just heard the glass shatter,” Andrew said. “Then I saw my dad and a bunch of first responders.”
ICE agents allegedly smashed the car window and forcibly removed Noe, citing a warrant. Vanessa rushed to the scene after receiving a frantic call from her husband.
DUI Claim Disputed
ICE reportedly told the family Noe was being taken based on a past DUI conviction, but Vanessa insists there’s no such record.
“I told them that it’s listed in the system as a speeding ticket, not a DUI,” she said. “We paid the fine, and the City of Oklahoma never filed a DUI charge.”
OSCN court record checks show no DUI convictions for Chavez.
Family Heartbroken, Fighting to Keep Him Home
Noe is currently being held in Cushing and may soon be deported to Guatemala. Vanessa has managed to raise $3,500 to begin bond proceedings and set up a GoFundMe page to help with legal fees.
“I can’t sleep without touching my husband. We’ve shared the same bed forever,” she said. “It’s hard to tell our kids their father was taken even though he did nothing wrong.”
Another Oklahoma Deportation Case Adds to Alarm
The Chavez case follows a similar incident involving Ton Vongphakdy, a man who arrived in the U.S. from Laos as a toddler in 1981. After serving time in his teens for theft and drug charges, Ton rebuilt his life—marrying, buying a home, and raising two daughters in Oklahoma.
Despite attending regular immigration hearings and holding a working visa, Ton was detained at his most recent hearing and is now in deportation proceedings. His family and friends, including longtime friend Brian Ruttman, say communication has been nearly impossible.
Both cases raise serious concerns about how ICE is handling long-term U.S. residents with families, jobs, and deep community ties—especially those actively working through legal immigration channels.
Vanessa Chavez continues to fight for her husband’s return.
“We just want answers. I want my husband back. Our kids need him.”
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