ICE-detained GHS student-athlete is coming home

Sebastian Jimenez, the Gainesville High School student-athlete who was taken from his Gainesville apartment, along with three family members, and detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Aug. 22, is coming home.

ICE transported the 17-year-old Venezuelan, who plays football, soccer and baseball at GHS, to a Texas detention facility, along with his mother.

The teen’s stepfather is Brazilian and was transported to a Jacksonville ICE facility, along with Jimenez’s 28-year-old sister, who is Venezuelan. His stepfather was also released on bond on Thursday and his sister’s bond hearing is set for Wednesday, Sept. 9.

A bond hearing for Jimenez and his mom was originally set for next Tuesday, but it was moved up to today.

On Thursday morning, a text message from GHS football coach Ashour Peera said, “He’s coming home. Bond was approved for him and mom.”

“Man, I don’t even know what I’m feeling,” said Peera in a phone call. “I broke down after I found out that the bond was approved. Last minute, I had a chance to sit in on the hearing and actually got to speak during his hearing as a witness for their character.”

Peera called it “a scary experience.”

“I was shaking while I was speaking to the government prosecutors and the judge, but you could only imagine how they felt,” he said.

Jimenez and his mom are currently getting bonded out, which should be in the next few hours. They already have their cell phones and belongings back in their possession.

Peera said once they are out, they will be able to call from their cell phones.

“And then the plan is to see where we need to fly them out of to get them back as quickly as possible,” he said. “We just want to make sure they get here safely, get back in their home, and then I don’t see why he wouldn’t come back to school because that’s part of him getting back to normal.”

According to Peera, a court date for their next hearing, along with check-ins they have to do, are part of the next steps in the process.

“We’ll get all those details and make sure that it’s all taken care of so they won’t miss anything,” Peera said. “And then we’ll just keep plugging away until they’re permanently here.”

Mainstreet’s original story, published Sept. 8, was shared on Facebook by Gainesville City Commissioner Bryan Eastman, who wrote, “Wow. This story is absolutely devastating and strikes close to home.” 

“I’m speechless. This is a kid who has basically grown up in Gainesville. He should be at GHS with his friends and teammates, not sitting in a detention facility hundreds of miles from home. They were a family looking to save their child’s life, and now they’re separated and in custody after committing no crime.”

A GoFundMe page was created for the family after they were detained. It currently has nearly $18,000 in donations raised.

An email from an ICE spokesperson sent to Mainstreet on Friday stated:    
 
“ICE arrested Fernando Rodrigo Bortolozo, an illegal alien from Brazil, Antmary Mayela Peroza Barrios, her minor child, and Fabiana Valentino Morillo Peroza, all illegal aliens from Venezuela, who are overstays during targeted immigration enforcement operations on Aug. 22, 2026, in Gainesville. Antmary Mayela Peroza Barrios and her minor child were taken into ICE custody as a family unit. They will all receive due process.    

“Bortolozo legally entered the United States on April 8, 2016, at the Miami International Airport with authorization to remain until June 20, 2019. He overstayed the terms of his legal entry. 

“Peroza Barrios and Morillo Peroza legally entered the United States on Nov. 16, 2016, in Miami, Florida, with authorization to remain until May 15, 2017. They both overstayed their legal entry by years. 

“All illegal aliens receive due process. ICE applies the law as written by Congress. If an immigration judge finds an illegal alien has no right to be in this country, we are going to remove them. Period. 

“Being in detention is a choice. We encourage all illegal aliens to take control of their departure with the CBP Home App. The United States is offering illegal aliens $3,000 and a free flight to self-deport now. We encourage every person here illegally to take advantage of this offer and reserve the chance to come back to the U.S. the right legal way to live the American dream. If not, you will be arrested and deported without a chance to return.” 

– Nick Anschultz contributed to this story.  

Editor’s note: This story was updated with information on Sebastian Jimenez’s sister and stepfather and with an email statement sent from ICE to Mainstreet on Friday morning.