Fact Check: "Sotelo's family left in the dark as ICE refuses to disclose his location."
What We Know
Moises Sotelo-Casas, a 54-year-old resident of Newberg, Oregon, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in early June 2025. His detention occurred outside a church and has raised concerns within the local Latino community (KGW). ICE confirmed that Sotelo-Casas has a criminal history, including a DUI conviction from 1997 and a prior deportation in 2006 for illegal reentry (Yamhill County News).
Following his detention, Sotelo's family and supporters expressed confusion and concern regarding his whereabouts, as they were unable to obtain information from ICE about his location. Reports indicate that his family tracked his location using his iPhone, which showed he had been transferred to an ICE detention center in Tacoma, Washington (KPTV).
Analysis
The claim that Sotelo's family was left in the dark as ICE refused to disclose his location appears to be substantiated by multiple sources. ICE's general policy is to limit the disclosure of detainee locations, which can lead to confusion and distress among families (ICE Detainee Locator System). While the family was ultimately able to track Sotelo's location through technology, their initial inability to receive information directly from ICE supports the assertion that they were left uninformed.
The reliability of the sources reporting on Sotelo's case varies. Local news outlets like KGW and Yamhill County News provide detailed accounts of the situation and include direct quotes from ICE officials, which adds credibility to their reporting. However, the emotional context provided by family members and community supporters may introduce bias, as they are advocating for Sotelo's release and highlighting the distress caused by his detention.
ICE's lack of transparency in such cases is a recurring theme in immigration enforcement discussions, often criticized for leaving families without crucial information during detention processes (Koin). This context reinforces the claim that Sotelo's family was indeed left in the dark, as they had to rely on indirect means to ascertain his location.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Sotelo's family was left in the dark as ICE refused to disclose his location is supported by evidence from multiple credible sources. The family's struggle to obtain information directly from ICE, coupled with the agency's general policy of limited disclosure, confirms that they were indeed uninformed about Sotelo's whereabouts for a significant period.
Sources
- Online Detainee Locator System
- ICE detains Oregon man outside church, sparks community fear | kgw.com
- Newberg vineyard workers arrested in targeted ICE raids: Salinas
- ICE Detains Newberg Resident, Revealing Previously Unknown Criminal and Deportation History
- ICE shares information on detaining well-known Oregon vineyard
