Longtime Resident Transferred Across Five Jurisdictions After Surrendering to ICE
Carlos Della Valle, a Mexican national who has resided in the United States for nearly three decades, reported to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, accompanied by his lawyer to turn himself in. Since his initial apprehension in the Caribbean territory, Della Valle has been subjected to a rapid succession of transfers, moving through detention facilities across three U.S. states and two territories over a five-month period.
Investigative reports indicate that Della Valle’s detention trajectory included transport from St. Thomas to Puerto Rico, followed by flights to facilities in Alexandria, Louisiana, and subsequent transfers to Brownsville and Port Isabel in Texas. During one instance at the Texas border, border agents reportedly instructed Della Valle to cross into Matamoros, Mexico, to effectuate his deportation. He refused to comply, citing his unwillingness to abandon his family in the United States, which resulted in his return to custody within the U.S. detention network. His wife, Angela Della Valle, reports that he has been moved more than a dozen times since his surrender.
The logistical handling of Della Valle’s case highlights a contentious aspect of the immigration enforcement system often criticized by legal advocates as “churning.” Defense attorneys argue that frequent transfers across state lines and jurisdictions make it nearly impossible for detainees to maintain consistent legal representation or prepare a defense, as they are often moved before lawyers can file necessary motions. However, immigration authorities maintain that the movement of detainees is a necessary function of the agency’s operations, dictated by the availability of bed space, the specialization of facilities, and the logistics required to execute removal orders for individuals who do not have legal status in the country. While Della Valle’s family emphasizes his thirty-year history in the U.S. and lack of a criminal record, federal agencies continue to prioritize the processing and removal of foreign nationals in accordance with court orders and immigration statutes.
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