Memo by Rubio approved detention of Colombian immigrant
newsJun 20, 202610163
Secretary of State Marco Rubio approved a memo that led U.S. immigration officials to detain Colombian immigrant Beto Coral in Phoenix after Coral publicly criticized a Trump‑endorsed presidential candidate in Colombia. The memo directed staff to terminate Coral’s work permit, saying his criticism 'undermined U.S. foreign policy,' and immigration agents detained him pending removal proceedings. The move matters because it uses immigration enforcement against political speech about a foreign election, raising constitutional and diplomatic concerns and risking a chilling effect on immigrants who speak out.
