Hearing set for Brother Lelo

Alfredo ‘Lelo’ Juarez Zeferino has been held at the Northwest Detention Center since he was detained in late March

TACOMA, WA (July 10, 2025) — Familias Unidas por la Justicia organizer Alfredo ‘Lelo’ Juarez Zeferino’s next hearing in his ongoing immigration case will be Monday, July 14. Since his violent arrest in early March, Brother Lelo and his legal team have repeatedly requested his case be dismissed or for him to be released on bond. Monday’s hearing is their next opportunity to do so, and supporters are encouraged to join a Solidarity Vigil outside the Northwest Detention Center during his hearing.

Juarez Zeferino is a long-time organizer and advocate, well-known for his instrumental work passing strengthened statewide heat protections for outdoor workers and securing overtime pay for farm workers. He was detained by immigration agents in Northwest Washington and sent to the privately-run detention center in Tacoma on Tuesday, March 25. According to witnesses, Brother Lelo was on his way to drop off his partner at her work place when he was stopped. As he tried to exercise his rights, federal agents broke his car window and pulled him from the vehicle, placing him in handcuffs.

His arrest sparked outrage across Washington’s labor movement, and has gained international attention as an example of immigration enforcement weaponized against worker advocates and labor leaders. While ICE claims Brother Lelo was detained due to a deportation order, his arrest comes as the Trump administration is targeting those who stand up to their inhumane campaign of mass deportation and efforts to undermine working peoples’ power. 

Community to Community Development, an organization Brother Lelo has organized with for years based in Whatcom and Skagit counties, is calling supporters to a Solidarity Vigil on Monday July 14 at the NW Detention Center (1623 E J St, Tacoma) starting at 8:30am. Carpool is available from Whatcom County. For questions, or to RSVP for the carpool, contact Liz Darrow at lizdarrow@foodjustice.org or call/text 360-220-9065.

Other solidarity actions supporters can take:

1. Write to Brother Lelo: Alfredo Juarez A205273237, 1623 J St #5 Tacoma, WA 98421-1615
2. Contact your elected officials to ask for his release and/or share his story online. Lelo has specifically asked for Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell to visit him at the NW Detention Center. Find their contact information below to help him amplify that request.
   • Senator Patty Murray: https://www.murray.senate.gov/write-to-patty/ | (253) 572-3636
   • Senator Maria Cantwell: https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email/form | (253) 572-2281