'Terrified': Central NJ Dad Ripped Away From Family By ICE In Traffic Stop Faces Deportation

A Middlesex County family is desperate to keep their father in the U.S. after he was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in a traffic stop.

Melvin Herrera faces deportation to Honduras Thursday and his wife, Geyde, is terrified she's next. The couple is pictured here with their kids Claudia, William and Valerie.
Photo Credit: *Herrera family via ABC7*

Cecilia Levine

02/19/2020 11:24 a.m.

Melvin Herrera of North Brunswick, who is an undocumented immigrant, was arrested last November for an expired registration of a vehicle that wasn't even his, ABC7 reports.

Herrera was driving a van in Plainfield for his job as a construction worker, and instead of being ticketed, he was arrested and handed over to ICE.

The breadwinner and father of three -- whose younger kids, William, 12, and Valerie, 4, have autism -- is currently being held in an Elizabeth ICE center pending deportation Thursday to Honduras.

"He entered the U.S. illegally at an unknown date and location, and was later encountered and arrested by Border Patrol May 29, 2005," ICE told ABC7.

"He was issued a notice to appear in immigration court and failed to do so. He was ordered removed in absentia by an immigration judge Oct. 3, 2005."

Herrera's wife, Geyde, is "terrified" that she's next, ABC7 says.

Click here for more from ABC7.

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