Judge temporarily blocks deportation

BAY AREA IMMIGRATION BATTLE

Guillermo Medina Reyes was set to be taken into custody Tuesday in San Jose

Guillermo Medina Reyes waits in the lobby of an immigration monitoring office on Tuesday in San Jose. The tattoo artist and community activist expected to be deported but received a temporary reprieve from a judge. Photos by Aric Crabb — staff photographer

Protesters rally in support of Guillermo Medina Reyes outside an immigration monitoring office on Tuesday in San Jose. Reyes was required to appear at the local office for possible detention.

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By Jia Jung and Jason Green

STAFF WRITERS

SAN JOSE — Bay Area tattoo artist and community organizer Guillermo Medina Reyes expected to be deported this week but has been granted a temporary restraining order against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin issued the order Monday afternoon.

While he’s won temporary relief from deportation, the possibility still looms as the Trump administration ramps up immigration enforcement efforts.

Reyes was required to appear early Tuesday morning at the office of the Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP), a subset of ICE in San Jose. He was released with an ankle monitor. Over 100 people gathered in the parking lot, holding signs and chanting.

“I can’t even describe how awful it feels,” the longtime San Jose resident said in a statement. “However, I feel so moved to know so many people in my community are coming out to support me and help me stay free.”

Victoria Sun, an immigration attorney with Pangea Legal Services, which is representing Reyes, said the restraining order prohibits ICE from detaining Reyes until 5 p.m. on July 14. A hearing where the agency must “show cause” is scheduled for the same day.

Reyes, now 31, came to the U.S. from Mexico when he was 6 years old. As a teenager, he was convicted of attempted murder.

Reyes served time in prison and then spent 15 months in immigration detention in the Central Valley. He was released on bond in 2023. While detained, he worked with human rights organizations to coordinate a labor strike protesting sub-minimum wage pay for working prisoners. He also co-organized a month-long hunger strike.

After he was released, he began working as a tattoo artist in San Jose, where he gained a significant following.

In May, after a mental health episode, he was arrested but released without facing charges. Sun believes the incident drew ICE’s attention.

Now, she said, “what we’re seeking is for them not to be able to detain him until a hearing before a neutral judge, like an immigration judge.”

On Tuesday, supporters from across the state arrived in San Jose.

“That’s my boy — I gotta make sure he walks free today,” said Leesa Nomura, with the California Coalition for Women Prisoners.

Nomura had been collaborating with Reyes to tattoo the word “freedom” on formerly incarcerated people re-entering society.

Sol Mercado, a reentry coordinator at Planting Justice in Oakland who helps formerly incarcerated people get back to regular life, said she and Reyes met and quickly got along famously.

“He was so humble, so friendly,” she said.

Still, his supporters are aware few people have sympathy for immigrants who have committed crimes.

According to the Pew Research Center, about half of U.S. adults say some immigrants living in the country illegally should be deported. And nearly all — 97% — of those who favor some deportations say those who committed violent crimes should be deported.

But, Mercado said, “We did our time. He’s doing something positive to uplift others, and he’s being a leader the community.”

She’s not surprised, however, that Reyes is facing deportation given the Trump administration’s promise to focus on immigration enforcement — particularly against people with criminal records.

“I’m not surprised at all this happened,” she said.

“I think it’s important for us to recognize each person’s humanity,” Sun said. “Behind each person there are friends and loved ones. Guillermo has a huge community behind him and we’re showing up for him.”