Locals on Edge As Rumors of ICE Raids Here Grow

Local Business Owner Still in Custody Weeks After Having to Miss Son’s Graduation at LHS

Locals are expressing fear across social media after being tipped off that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers will be in Fayette County on Tuesday.

Screenshots of a Facebook post spread quickly across social media, with hundreds of shares across Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.

“ICE agents will be doing a huge round up on Tuesday with a lot of outside agencies,” according to the Facebook post. The post explains that they got a tip from a reputable source, warning them about the officers while also explaining how locals can ensure their safety.

“As long as you have proof of documents on you at all times, you will be fine,” according to the post.

While these posts started circulating last Friday, ICE has been combing through the community for months.

Back in May, an undocumented business owner from the La Grange area was taken into custody by ICE agents after a traffic stop.

Marcos Vega, the owner of Vega Landscaping Services, was pulled over on the morning of May 5 for hauling an uncovered trailer and having his license plate situated on the dashboard.

In Texas, the first offense for driving without a license is considered a Class C misdemeanor with no jail time. Marcos, however, has been in custody for almost six weeks.

“The Sheriff called immigration and they said that my dad had no legal issues, but the Sheriff decided to take him in regardless,” said his son, Gabriel Vega. “They took him back to the department, and by the time my uncle got there, they had already moved him.”

Gabriel graduated from high school on May 23 while his father was still in custody, so Marcos had to miss the once in a lifetime milestone for his eldest child.

“I was pretty upset, but after the second week, I just had to pick myself up because I had to handle a bunch of financial responsibilities that he left,” Gabriel said.

Now having the responsibility to help support his mom and younger sister, while most other students his age were celebrating their recent graduation, Gabriel has had to pick up extra shifts at work to help make ends meet.

“I picked up an extra 10 hours a week,” Gabriel said. “I’ve been working about 42 to 43 hours every week.”

Marcos has a third hearing in immigration court on July 2 in Conroe, but the Vega family is trying to find a workaround to get him processed through civil court instead.

“We got a lawyer and documentation from him, the company, our family and the community, and if we can get it processed before July 2, he can have a hearing with a judge in civil court rather than immigration court,” Gabriel said. “Going through civil court gives him the opportunity to be released with no repercussions. If it goes through immigration court, it’s a longer process.”

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office joined Operation Lone Star last November, which is a program that was launched by Governor Abbott in 2021 to increase immigration enforcement operations across the state. Texas leads the U.S. with the number of ICE detainees at 17,908 as of March 2026. The judge assigned to the case has received numerous letters from friends, family and co-workers of Marcos about his extensive involvement and commitment to the community.

“We really appreciate the support from everyone,” Gabriel said. “We just want him to come home.”