Image Credit: AKIN -Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
32-year-old Alejandro Guizar Lozano was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when he showed up for an appointment at an immigration center near Nashville this Wednesday.
According to ICE spokesperson, Angelina Vicknair, Lozano had previously been convicted of possession of methamphetamine and sentenced to a year of probation. He has also already gotten a DUI conviction for which he received a sentence of 11 months and 29 days.
Lozano was initially being held in the Putnam County Jail but he is no longer listed on the jail’s roster and been moved to a new location.
This relocation is not abnormal. Most ICE detainees are moved to the Knox County Jail due to their established partnership with ICE through the 287(g) enforcement program.
ICE said that Lozano is being held pending proceedings and re-calendaring of a notice to appear.
A left-leaning advocacy group called Allies of Knoxville’s Immigrant Neighbors (AKIN) has been calling for Lozano’s release and calling him an “undocumented immigrant, beloved community organizer and union member.”
According to their website, AKIN works to:
- Encourage dialogue about issues related to immigrants and refugees.
- Build better understanding among immigrants, refugees and members of local receiving communities.
- Support and learn from immigrant and refugee communities as they engage in civic and political life.
- Promote more just and reasonable policies toward immigration and asylum.
- Foster a welcoming atmosphere in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and recognized for their positive contributions to the community.
In years past, the organization has championed campaigns against the ICE 287(g) enforcement program and in favor of what they call “tuition equality” and “comprehensive immigration reform.”
AKIN said Lozano came to the U.S. from Culiacán Sinaloa, Mexico when he was around 12 years old and has actually lived in Knoxville for more than 20 years.
“As a young person, he helped organize young immigrants,” said a founding member of AKIN, De Ann Pendry. “Alejandro is such a positive person – always willing to help out – and very focused on social justice. He has a big heart.”
This is not the first time that the federal government has attempted to deport Lozano.
According to a blog post from March of 2023 that Channel 10 News dug up, Lozano’s “community organizing journey” began back in 2011 when “the U.S. Government unsuccessfully sought to deport Alejandro to Mexico.”
AKIN started a GoFundMe on Wednesday titled, “Free Alejandro.”
Almost $43,000 has been raised to go toward Lozano’s legal fees and to support Lozano’s mother.
“When we got in touch with him,” AKIN wrote, “he had two requests: 1) Take care of his mother 2) Raise awareness through a public campaign.”
For reference, an ICE immigration detainer is a request from ICE that asks a federal, state or local law enforcement agency — including jails, prisons or other confinement facilities — to:
- Notify the requesting agency as early as possible before they release a removable alien.
- Hold the alien for up to 48 hours beyond the time they would ordinarily release them so DHS has time to assume custody in accordance with federal immigration law.
U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett’s office put out an official statement regarding Lozano’s arrest, saying that Burchett “continues to support law enforcement and the Trump Administration in protecting the rule of law in America.”
“We are aware of the arrest and subsequent investigation being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) against Mr. Lozano,” the statement added. “Congressman Burchett wishes that Mr. Lozano would have reached out to our office to help him work through the citizenship process.”
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Responses
Shoulda self deported.
NO, plain and simple. “Community organizers” are terrorists and have no place in TN, or the US. Look what “community organizer Barak HUSSEIN Obama” did for the US! If this illegal alien is released back into the population without being removed to the country of origin, then the law enforcement, including the DA, need to be removed from office. They took an oath and they must be reminded of that.