Brazilian Man Detained by ICE After Pleading Guilty to Speeding Ticket in Franklin County Court
Columbus, Ohio – In a troubling case raising questions about immigration enforcement in Ohio, Leonardo Fausto was arrested by ICE agents immediately after pleading guilty to a speeding ticket in Butler County traffic court in early June. Fausto, a Brazilian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in 2021 fleeing gang threats, was taken into custody at the courthouse and remains held at Butler County Jail on an ICE hold.
Despite having no criminal record and complying with immigration supervision orders—including regular check-ins with ICE in Westerville—Fausto’s guilty plea to a local traffic violation triggered his detention. His attorneys emphasize that such arrests are becoming increasingly common under current immigration policies, which hold immigrants accountable for even minor local ordinance violations.
Fausto works construction by day and delivers pizza by night alongside his wife to support their three young children. The family is active in their local Brazilian church community. His lawyers are now fighting for a bond hearing to reunite him with his family, arguing that Fausto cannot be legally deported without a deportation order.
Meanwhile, Ohio Representative Gary Click has proposed the “America First Act,” aiming to strengthen immigration enforcement by criminalizing unlawful entry into Ohio. However, the bill explicitly excludes asylum seekers actively working through the legal process, like Fausto.
Click expressed hope that justice will prevail, emphasizing the importance of following legal channels and offering temporary stays for immigrants navigating their cases.
As Fausto’s attorneys await a bond hearing, his story highlights the complexities and challenges faced by immigrant families in Ohio amid evolving immigration policies.
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