On Nov. 7, 2026, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents detained Argentine acrobats Agustin Baccega and Gustavo Romanello at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to a statement from the Phoenix ICE field office cited by AZFamily. The men, who were returning to Arizona to attend a memorial for a circus trainer, were taken into custody as part of a targeted immigration enforcement action.
ICE officials said both men entered the United States legally in 2020—Baccega on Sep. 8 via Miami International Airport and Romanello on Oct. 30 via Los Angeles International Airport—but each overstayed the authorized period of admission, which expired on March 7, 2021, for Baccega and April 28, 2021, for Romanello. Although they hold work permits that remain valid until 2029, the agency clarified that employment authorization does not confer lawful immigration status and therefore does not shield individuals from enforcement.
Friends of the couple, including Jonathan Batchelor, reported that plain‑clothes ICE officers approached the pair at the airport, placed them in handcuffs, and escorted them to the Florence ICE detention center. Batchelor said he was on the phone with the men when the agents arrived and captured a photo of Baccega being detained before the call was disconnected.
The detainees are married, have pending asylum applications, and have been described as contributing members of the community, having performed at venues such as Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World. Their attorney, Ray Ybarra Maldonado of Ybarra Maldonado Law Group, called for their immediate release and urged local elected officials to denounce the arrests.
ICE also highlighted a voluntary departure program, offering up to $3,000 and a free flight to individuals who choose to self‑deport through the CBP Home app. The agency emphasized that those who do not take advantage of the program may face removal without a guaranteed return.
President Donald Trump, speaking on “60 Minutes” on the same day, reflected on his administration’s immigration policy, noting that it “might be too tough, yeah.” Hours later, the Trump administration appointed Steven Miller—who previously led the administration’s immigration agenda—as chief of staff, underscoring the administration’s continued focus on robust immigration enforcement.
What’s next: Baccega and Romanello remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. Their legal team plans to seek release, while immigration advocates continue to press Phoenix officials for a public response. The voluntary departure incentive remains available, and ICE has indicated that individuals may use the CBP Home app to arrange self‑deportation.
Sources: azfamily.com
