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Venezuelan couple detained by ICE while charging Tesla at Doral station

Sep 9, 2026·Location: Doral, FL

Country of origin: Venezuela

Venezuelan couple detained by ICE while charging Tesla at Doral station
Photo via Instagram

Marianela Pujol and Nelson José Díaz, a Venezuelan couple originally from Ciudad Ojeda, Zulia, were detained by ICE agents on the night of Sunday, September 6, while stopped at a Wawa charging station on 87th Avenue in Doral, Florida, to recharge their electric vehicle. The couple, who work as insurance agents, entered the U.S. legally in 2021 on a visa and have a still-pending asylum application. Their 21-year-old daughter, Daniela Pujol, said an officer told her mother there was no specific infraction but that she was being taken into custody because of the pending asylum case, leaving Daniela alone in the country. Family members said the couple has no criminal record, and Daniela has sought legal representation, appealed to a local council member and advocacy organizations, and started a GoFundMe campaign to cover legal defense costs.

Timeline

Sep 9, 2026—Daughter publicly shared account and appealed for legal help
Sep 6, 2026—Couple detained by ICE while charging their Tesla at a Doral charging station
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