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Iowa City pastor deported after fierce battle to keep him in America

Villatoro and his wife (photo from davidleopold.net)
Villatoro and his wife
(photo from davidleopold.net)

IOWA CITY – An Iowa City pastor whom thousands backed via petition and demonstrations to stay in America was deported Thursday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the man’s lawyer confirmed.

“Good afternoon.This is to confirm that’s your client Mr. Villatoro was removed to Honduras today. He has landed. Thank you,” ICE tweeted to Cleveland, Ohio attorney David Leopold, who represents Pastor Max Villatoro of Iowa City.

“This is how ICE informed me today that they’d deported Pastor Max Villatoro, a dedicated huband, father of four (4) US citizen children, and religious leader. This is how they announced they’ve banished a man who has lived in the U.S. for more than 2 decades, raised a family, worked hard and earned the respect and support of his community,” Leopold said Friday.

According to the Iowa City Press Citizen, Villatoro was arrested outside his home in Iowa City on March 3 during a nationwide sweep by ICE that targeted convicted criminals living in the country illegally. Villatoro, 41, came to the United States from Honduras in 1995. Villatoro was convicted in 1999 in Johnson County for drunken driving and in Muscatine County for using a fake name while trying to obtain a state ID, and served a suspended sentence.

Villatoro leads a Spanish-speaking congregation, at the First Mennonite Church in Iowa City.

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