‘Jimmy is no criminal’: Family says ICE wrongfully detained Ga. man

ATLANTA, Ga. — The family of a Georgia man says he was wrongfully detained by ICE agents during a traffic stop in January.

Jimmy Paz is in custody at the ICE Processing Center in Folkston, Georgia, according to ICE records.

His family says Paz, a father and construction worker, has no criminal record and has lived in the United States for 21 years.

“He showed the officers these,” his son-in-law Leo Candenas said, holding up copies of Paz’s identification documents. “[The officer] said everything is good, but I still need to take you in,” Candenas said in an interview with Atlanta News First, recounting the arrest.

The documents included Paz’s work permit, valid through December 2029, and a current driver’s license.

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“He don’t have a criminal record. He don’t have anything bad. The paper is good,” Candenas said.

ICE has not provided details about the charges Paz is facing or whether deportation proceedings are underway.

A spokesperson for the agency did not respond to questions about Paz’s detention and what healthcare measures are in place during his custody.

Paz, according to his family, had a heart transplant four years ago and they worry about the jail’s ability to manage any complications. Candenas said Paz has been receiving his heart medication while in custody after his doctor wrote a letter to the agency.

“He cannot stay inside. For health reasons? Yes,” Candenas explained.

Paz originally immigrated to the United States from Venezuela two decades ago. Documents reviewed by WRDW’s sister station, Atlanta News First, showed Paz was approved for temporary protected status in 2022. They showed Paz re-applied for TPS in September 2025. Those documents did not indicate whether his reapplication had been approved.

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He also provided a copy of a Social Security card that says Paz was “Valid For Work Only With DHS Authorization.”

Paz also applied for asylum in 2020, according to documents provided to Atlanta News First.

His family says returning to Venezuela is not a safe option since the country faces political instability after the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro.

“It’s not safe, that country right now. The same people is in there,” Candenas said, comparing some in current leadership to Maduro. “You have corruption, bad people. We cannot come back right now.”

The detention has created a cascade of uncertainty for Candenas himself.

Candenas also comes from Venezuela and has the same work authorization documents as Paz. He’s been in the country for 10 years and is struggling to work to support his two daughters and wife, who is pregnant with their son.

“I’m no criminal. Jimmy is no criminal,” Candenas said. “I know too much people in there [ICE custody] is no criminal.”

The family has an immigration hearing scheduled for Thursday with a judge, though they remain uncertain about what could come from it.

They hope Paz will be released to continue the asylum process outside of custody, allowing him to work and receive the medical care his condition demands.