Castro Calls for Release of San Antonio U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman’s Mom to Be Released from Dilley Trailer Prison
SAN ANTONIO, TX — Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) released the statement below regarding a San Antonio student whose mother is being detained at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center. Today, Castro will go to Dilley for his ninth visit this year alongside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Congressional team.
“Earlier this year, I proudly nominated David Garcia to the U.S. Naval Academy because of his academic excellence and commitment to service. He began as a midshipman this summer.
“Right now, his mother, Maria, is locked away at the Dilley Trailer Prison. ICE took her when she showed up for her green card interview. She was doing everything the right way.
“The Trump Administration is targeting military families and leaving a dark stain on our nation.
“I am calling for ICE to release David’s mom Maria immediately.”
Background:
Earlier this year, Congressman Castro successfully nominated David Garcia to be appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy. Garcia started as a midshipman this summer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained his mother, Maria Rocio Rocha, while she was at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office for a green card interview on August 25, 2026. She was then transferred to the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, also known as the Dilley Trailer Prison.
Additional Information:
This morning, Castro joined Democracy Now! and called on ICE to immediately release Maria Rocio Rocha. Find the transcript below:
The Trump Administration, it's clear, is also targeting military families. We've seen this kind of story come up now several times.
David Garcia is an outstanding young man from San Antonio in my congressional district. I nominated him to the U.S. Naval Academy and he's there right now. Unfortunately, his mom had been granted parole in place and showed up for her green card interview and when she did, ICE took her.
Now she's sitting in that Dilley Trailer Prison as her son is at the U.S. Naval Academy as we speak. I've been in contact with ICE. I'm working on his mom Maria's case, and I'm hoping to see her today. But we were still working out getting all of the privacy and permission forms that we need.
You've got this young man who is serving his country, who absolutely represents the best of us—his mom that was doing everything right, as they say—and still, Donald Trump and his administration, with the help of governors like Greg Abbott, are targeting them.
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