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Henry M.H.: Ex-Venezuelan army major held by ICE after DUI charge dropped

Henry Morales Hernandez, 55, a former Venezuelan Army major and grandfather who fled Maduro's government, remains in ICE custody after a dismissed DUI charge and a denied bond request.

May 26, 2026Florida, FLCountry of origin: Venezuela

Henry M.H.: Ex-Venezuelan army major held by ICE after DUI charge dropped
Photo via GoFundMe

Henry Morales Hernandez, 55, a former Venezuelan Army major who fled the Maduro government, was detained by ICE following a traffic stop in Collier County, Florida in April 2026. He was initially charged with driving under the influence, but prosecutors dropped the charge after breath tests showed blood alcohol levels of 0.036 and 0.037, below Florida's legal limit of 0.08. Despite the dismissal, ICE lodged a detainer and took him into custody on May 1, 2026. An immigration judge denied his bond request later that month, citing the arrest report even though the DUI charge had been dropped. Morales Hernandez, a grandfather, arrived legally on a tourist visa in 2021, has an active asylum case, and previously held Temporary Protected Status, a program the Trump administration moved to terminate in 2025.

Timeline

May 26, 2026—Immigration judge denied bond request, citing the arrest report
May 1, 2026—Detained by ICE under a detainer despite the dismissed DUI charge
Apr 1, 2026—Stopped by police and charged with DUI in Collier County, Florida; charge later dropped after breath test results came back below the legal limit
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