Houston Family’s Ordeal: Legal Permanent Resident Detained by ICE for Months
A Houston-area family is desperately fighting for the release of their loved one, Curtis Wright, a legal U.S. Permanent resident, who has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) since November 6, 2025. The case raises questions about the scrutiny of legal permanent residents and the impact of past misdemeanor charges.
Details of the Detention
Curtis Wright, 39, was detained at George Bush Intercontinental Airport upon returning from a business trip to Mexico. According to his fiancée, Kayla Thomsen, he was subjected to a secondary screening and then informed he would be taken into ICE custody. He is currently being held at a detention facility in Pearsall, Texas as reported by Click2Houston.
Long-Term Residency and Green Card Renewals
Wright has resided in the United States for over two decades, having arrived with his family on visas in 1998 and becoming a lawful permanent resident in 2001. His father, Jim Wright, emphasized that Curtis’s green card has been renewed twice, highlighting the family’s confusion over his current detention.
The Reason for Detention
Immigration officials have indicated that Wright is being held due to a misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance charge from when he was 17 years old. The family was unaware that this past charge was still an issue and is questioning why it is now grounds for detention, especially given his long-term residency and renewed legal status.
Family’s Plea and Public Attention
The family is growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of answers and is appealing for assistance in securing Wright’s release. The case has gained attention from local news outlets, including KPRC2 as reported on Facebook and Instagram, bringing the situation to a wider audience. Rilwan Balogun of KPRC2 is covering the story.
Ongoing Concerns
The Wright family’s situation underscores the challenges faced by legal permanent residents navigating the U.S. Immigration system. The case raises concerns about the potential for past mistakes to resurface and disrupt established lives, even after decades of lawful residency and repeated green card renewals.