Francesca D'Annunzio
@francescadnunz.bsky.social
Texas Observer investigative reporter covering the immigration enforcement, US-MX borderlands, AI surveillance tech, + extremism.
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
multilingual, nosy, and probably filing records requests
📩 [email protected]
https://linktr.ee/FrancescaDnunz
Now back home, Castro Bravo hopes to open a barbershop again soon.
As for his time in Texas, he said, “I don’t want to remember this experience.”
As for his time in Texas, he said, “I don’t want to remember this experience.”
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Now back home, Castro Bravo hopes to open a barbershop again soon.
As for his time in Texas, he said, “I don’t want to remember this experience.”
As for his time in Texas, he said, “I don’t want to remember this experience.”
When police arrested him in Hays County, he’d been saving up for a plane ticket to self-deport. He wanted to be home in time for the holidays; last winter, he was homeless and sleeping in his car in Austin-area HEB parking lots, and spent Christmas with people he barely knew.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
When police arrested him in Hays County, he’d been saving up for a plane ticket to self-deport. He wanted to be home in time for the holidays; last winter, he was homeless and sleeping in his car in Austin-area HEB parking lots, and spent Christmas with people he barely knew.
State police cited the drugs found on Vizcaino González and Castro Bravo in the probable cause affidavit for the warrant to raid the Airbnb.
Castro Bravo told the Observer that he was deported back to Venezuela two weeks ago. His mom greeted him outside the family house in tears.
Castro Bravo told the Observer that he was deported back to Venezuela two weeks ago. His mom greeted him outside the family house in tears.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
State police cited the drugs found on Vizcaino González and Castro Bravo in the probable cause affidavit for the warrant to raid the Airbnb.
Castro Bravo told the Observer that he was deported back to Venezuela two weeks ago. His mom greeted him outside the family house in tears.
Castro Bravo told the Observer that he was deported back to Venezuela two weeks ago. His mom greeted him outside the family house in tears.
DPS accused him in an arrest report of TdA affiliation because of his tattoos, and he was arrested for drug possession. Castro Bravo was held in jail—mostly in west Texas—for six months before the felony ketamine case against him was dropped in Oct. He also denies any gang ties.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
DPS accused him in an arrest report of TdA affiliation because of his tattoos, and he was arrested for drug possession. Castro Bravo was held in jail—mostly in west Texas—for six months before the felony ketamine case against him was dropped in Oct. He also denies any gang ties.
Castro Bravo, a 24-year-old barber from Caracas, told the Observer he was stopped while driving for DoorDash in the area and was unaware of the party (though police say he had left the party location). After he showed a Venezuelan passport, a DPS trooper called in ICE.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Castro Bravo, a 24-year-old barber from Caracas, told the Observer he was stopped while driving for DoorDash in the area and was unaware of the party (though police say he had left the party location). After he showed a Venezuelan passport, a DPS trooper called in ICE.
“We are hardworking people, nobody at the party was a criminal,” Vizcaino González told the Observer. “We were just immigrants trying to get ahead and celebrating a friend’s birthday.”
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“We are hardworking people, nobody at the party was a criminal,” Vizcaino González told the Observer. “We were just immigrants trying to get ahead and celebrating a friend’s birthday.”
He was charged with ketamine possession but bonded out into ICE custody and, being a dual Venezuelan-Spanish citizen, was deported to Spain in May.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
He was charged with ketamine possession but bonded out into ICE custody and, being a dual Venezuelan-Spanish citizen, was deported to Spain in May.
Vizcaino González was a passenger in a car stopped by DPS for ignoring a stop sign. ICE agents then arrived and found narcotics in his inner waistband.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Vizcaino González was a passenger in a car stopped by DPS for ignoring a stop sign. ICE agents then arrived and found narcotics in his inner waistband.
The two men who faced the state drug charges were Antonio Vizcaino González and Jeankey Jhonayker Castro Bravo.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The two men who faced the state drug charges were Antonio Vizcaino González and Jeankey Jhonayker Castro Bravo.
Advocates say the Hays County raid is an example of police accusing Venezuelans, without evidence, of gang ties under the Trump administration.
(For another example, see this story about a construction worker: texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...)
(For another example, see this story about a construction worker: texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...)
A Venezuelan Was Detained as a 'Documented' Gang Member by ICE, Which Refused to Provide Proof
The Venezuelan immigrant, who has no criminal record, previously worked for a multinational corporation that sells snacks, food, and soft drinks.
texasobserver.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Advocates say the Hays County raid is an example of police accusing Venezuelans, without evidence, of gang ties under the Trump administration.
(For another example, see this story about a construction worker: texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...)
(For another example, see this story about a construction worker: texasobserver.org/venezuelan-d...)
The agency said the raid was an “FBI-led operation” and referred the Observer’s questions to the FBI and DPS. DPS declined to comment; an FBI auto-reply indicated the agency would not respond until the federal shutdown ended.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
The agency said the raid was an “FBI-led operation” and referred the Observer’s questions to the FBI and DPS. DPS declined to comment; an FBI auto-reply indicated the agency would not respond until the federal shutdown ended.
“Everyone whom ICE arrested was found to be illegally present in the U.S. and taken into ICE custody pending immigration proceedings,” an ICE spokesperson told the Observer.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
“Everyone whom ICE arrested was found to be illegally present in the U.S. and taken into ICE custody pending immigration proceedings,” an ICE spokesperson told the Observer.
Ranc said an investigator in his office asked ICE for evidence like video footage or incident reports but never got a reply. Ranc didn’t believe he could prosecute the drug charges and comply with Texas discovery laws. Both defendants have now been deported.
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Ranc said an investigator in his office asked ICE for evidence like video footage or incident reports but never got a reply. Ranc didn’t believe he could prosecute the drug charges and comply with Texas discovery laws. Both defendants have now been deported.
Marc Ranc, prosecutor in Hays County, told me he dropped the cases last month bc ICE wouldn't confirm whether or not they had addtl evidence. “I didn’t get any of what I thought should have been given to me by the feds,” Ranc said. “They never communicated with me. Nothing.”
November 13, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Marc Ranc, prosecutor in Hays County, told me he dropped the cases last month bc ICE wouldn't confirm whether or not they had addtl evidence. “I didn’t get any of what I thought should have been given to me by the feds,” Ranc said. “They never communicated with me. Nothing.”
full story is here:
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
Texas Turns Its Sprawling State Police Force Into Immigration Agents for Trump
The notorious 287(g) task force program has finally reached DPS, raising fears of widespread racial profiling.
www.texasobserver.org
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
full story is here:
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-28...
But even before DPS signed up for 287(g), Woodward said, “We’re seeing them do that already.” The only difference now, he said, is “they’re no longer gonna have to call ICE.”
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
But even before DPS signed up for 287(g), Woodward said, “We’re seeing them do that already.” The only difference now, he said, is “they’re no longer gonna have to call ICE.”
“In some ways, that gives them more power than ICE, because they now have both of those authorities,” said Danny Woodward, a policy attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
“In some ways, that gives them more power than ICE, because they now have both of those authorities,” said Danny Woodward, a policy attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project.
Local and state cops deputized to act as ICE agents will be able to essentially mix and match their authorities, enforcing federal immigration law in the process of enforcing state criminal and traffic laws.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Local and state cops deputized to act as ICE agents will be able to essentially mix and match their authorities, enforcing federal immigration law in the process of enforcing state criminal and traffic laws.
None of the three Salvadoran drivers had criminal records in Texas, and DPS officers didn’t write traffic tickets for two of them. The only written ticket, per records obtained by the Observer, was for a brake light violation.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
None of the three Salvadoran drivers had criminal records in Texas, and DPS officers didn’t write traffic tickets for two of them. The only written ticket, per records obtained by the Observer, was for a brake light violation.
In June, DPS helped federal agents arrest three undocumented Salvadorans in Longview by stopping them for traffic violations after they left their home. ICE agents promptly arrested the three immigrants, according to dashcam video and incident reports.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
In June, DPS helped federal agents arrest three undocumented Salvadorans in Longview by stopping them for traffic violations after they left their home. ICE agents promptly arrested the three immigrants, according to dashcam video and incident reports.
Three months prior, according to records we obtained, DPS officers tagged along to a South Dallas home to help ICE arrest a Venezuelan man with no criminal record.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
November 4, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Three months prior, according to records we obtained, DPS officers tagged along to a South Dallas home to help ICE arrest a Venezuelan man with no criminal record.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.
They tracked him down using his ankle monitor; he'd previously been part of the Alternatives to Detention program.