Fact Check: "ICE detains respected vineyard manager Moises Sotelo outside church"
What We Know
On June 12, 2025, Moises Sotelo-Casas, a 54-year-old vineyard manager in Oregon, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside St. Michael's Episcopal Church in Newberg, Oregon, while he was on his way to work. Sotelo has lived in the United States since the late 1990s and has built a successful career in the vineyard industry, even receiving a Vineyard Excellence Award from the Oregon Wine Board in 2020 (The Daily Beast). His daughter reported that he was surrounded by multiple ICE agents as he left his home, and she described the distressing scene of his arrest (KPTV).
ICE stated that Sotelo first entered the U.S. illegally in 2006 and claimed he had a DUI conviction. However, a search by the Yamhill County District Attorney’s office found no record of such a conviction (The Guardian). Sotelo's family has indicated that he was in the process of applying for legal citizenship under the Biden administration, which adds complexity to his situation (The Daily Beast).
Analysis
The claim that ICE detained Moises Sotelo outside a church is supported by multiple credible sources. Reports from local news outlets such as KPTV and KGW confirm the details of his arrest, including the location and circumstances surrounding it (KPTV, KGW). The involvement of ICE and the community's reaction to his arrest have been widely reported, indicating that Sotelo is indeed a respected figure in the local vineyard industry.
However, the reliability of ICE's statements regarding Sotelo's alleged criminal history is questionable. The absence of any DUI records from the Yamhill County District Attorney’s office raises concerns about the accuracy of ICE's claims (The Guardian). Furthermore, the community's response, including statements from fellow vineyard workers and friends, highlights the impact of his detention on the local community and raises ethical concerns about ICE's practices (The Daily Beast, Havana Times).
The sources used in this fact-check are reputable, with local news organizations providing firsthand accounts and community perspectives. The Guardian, known for its investigative journalism, adds further credibility to the narrative by questioning ICE's claims about Sotelo's criminal history.
Conclusion
The claim that ICE detained respected vineyard manager Moises Sotelo outside a church is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms the details of his arrest, the circumstances surrounding it, and the community's response. While ICE's assertions about Sotelo's criminal history lack supporting evidence, the core claim regarding his detention is substantiated.
Sources
- ICE Arrests Beloved Oregon Vineyard Manager Outside Church
- ICE shares information on detaining well-known Oregon vineyard manager
- Sea level rise is a global threat – here’s why | World Economic Forum
- Ice's 'inhumane' arrest of well-known vineyard manager
- ICE detains Oregon man outside church, sparks community fear - kgw.com
- Sea ice is melting. Why business leaders must pay attention
- ICE Arrest of Vineyard Manager Shakes Oregon Wine Industry
