Venezuelan Doctor Detained at Airport, Misses Husband's Asylum Interview

Rubeliz Bolivar was arrested with her 5-year-old daughter while trying to fly to California for the interview.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:07pm

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A cinematic painting of an empty airport security checkpoint, with warm light and deep shadows creating a sense of quiet tension and uncertainty around the immigration process.The detention of a Venezuelan doctor at an airport highlights the human toll of the administration's hardline immigration policies.Santa Maria Today

A Venezuelan doctor named Rubeliz Bolivar was detained by Border Patrol agents at McAllen International Airport in Texas while trying to fly to California to attend her husband's asylum interview. Bolivar, who worked as a doctor in an underserved area, was arrested along with the couple's 5-year-old daughter. Her husband, Milenko Faria, attended the interview alone while Bolivar entered her sixth day in immigration custody.

Why it matters

The arrests of Bolivar and another Venezuelan doctor, Ezequiel Veliz, are part of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies that have led to increased enforcement and detentions of immigrants, even those with pending legal status applications.

The details

Bolivar, 33, was arrested by Border Patrol agents before passing through security at the airport. She showed her driver's license and work authorization, but was detained after being asked about her nationality and legal permanent residency. Bolivar has been held at the El Valle Detention Facility in Texas since Sunday. Her 5-year-old daughter, a U.S. citizen, was also arrested and later released to Bolivar's father in California.

  • Bolivar was arrested by Border Patrol agents at McAllen International Airport on Saturday, April 15, 2026.
  • Bolivar's husband, Milenko Faria, attended the asylum interview in California on Thursday, April 13, 2026 without his wife.
  • Another Venezuelan doctor, Ezequiel Veliz, was detained by Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in South Texas on April 6, 2026.

The players

Rubeliz Bolivar

A 33-year-old Venezuelan doctor who worked in the emergency room of a hospital in McAllen, Texas and was arrested by Border Patrol agents at the airport while trying to travel to California for her husband's asylum interview.

Milenko Faria

Bolivar's husband, who attended the asylum interview in California alone after his wife was detained.

Ezequiel Veliz

Another Venezuelan doctor who was detained by Border Patrol agents at a checkpoint in South Texas on April 6, 2026.

Victor Badell

The attorney for Ezequiel Veliz who was able to secure his release on bond after about ten days in detention.

Jodi Goodwin

An immigration attorney in South Texas who observed a change in policy around September or October 2025 where individuals with pending USCIS applications were being arrested when traveling.

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What they’re saying

“We have never done anything outside the law. We have done everything by following the steps in accordance with the law to obtain permanent residency.”

— Milenko Faria, Bolivar's husband

“It just became a very apparent trend where anyone that had some kind of application pending with USCIS, whether it was an adjustment of status or asylum, anything like that, they were going to be arrested.”

— Jodi Goodwin, Immigration attorney

What’s next

Bolivar remains in ICE custody at the El Valle Detention Facility in Texas. Her attorney has not yet received a response from authorities on why she was detained.

The takeaway

This case highlights the impact of the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, which have led to increased enforcement and detentions of immigrants, even those with pending legal status applications. The arrests of Bolivar and Veliz, both Venezuelan doctors, underscore the challenges faced by immigrants seeking asylum or permanent residency in the United States.