Bryan José Rojas Galofre had big plans to treat his wife to an unforgettable honeymoon, hoping to soak up some sun at the beach for the first time and maybe even catch a glimpse of President Donald Trump, whom she admires.
But their road trip from Wisconsin to Miami in January 2025 took a dark turn. Rojas, a Venezuelan immigrant with a wife and young kids who are U.S. citizens, found himself in hot water after a stop at a security checkpoint near a Trump hotel.
He ended up spending over three months in ICE custody in Florida, facing some serious allegations about gang ties. Rojas was terrified of being sent back to El Salvador, and in the chaos, he lost his steady job and work permit. Now, the family is struggling; they’ve lost their home and car, drained Rojas’ 401(k), and racked up debt.
“In the end, it was a bad decision,” Rojas, 34, reflected in an interview with Noticias Telemundo about wanting to take his wife, Socorro Zaragosa, to the Trump National Doral hotel. They were hoping to catch a glimpse of the president, who was there for a Republican retreat on Jan. 27. Rojas mentioned they had booked a stay at that hotel starting the next day.
Zaragosa, 22, a U.S. citizen, grew up in Wisconsin in a family that backs the current president.
“I’m his fan. I believe Trump is a good president,” she expressed. Yet, she acknowledged that her political loyalty clashes with the disappointment she feels about the months her husband spent in detention.
“What he is doing to migrants isn’t fair,” Zaragosa remarked about the president. “What happened to my family wasn’t fair.”
Rojas had made his way to the U.S. in September 2021 during President Joe Biden’s administration. He turned himself in to Border Patrol, explaining that he was escaping Venezuela, and was released while his asylum application was in the works.
Since then, Rojas had been clocking in at a brake disc factory in Wisconsin, making $29 an hour and working his way up to line supervisor.
He tied the knot with Zaragosa in September 2024 and was starting the process to adjust his immigration status through family sponsorship right before they set off on their honeymoon.
On the afternoon of Jan. 27, 2025, Rojas and Zaragosa headed toward the hotel. As they got closer, they hit a security checkpoint necessary to access the property, where Secret Service agents and local police searched their vehicle.
Underneath one of the car seats, they found an air pistol, also known as an airsoft gun, which shoots plastic pellets and is used for recreational purposes. Zaragosa explained that she kept it for her safety while driving solo since it looks like a real firearm. Authorities also discovered a metal marijuana grinder in the glove compartment on the passenger side. The couple was arrested by local police and charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use. They pleaded not guilty, and the case is still open.