FOLKSTON, GA. — Venezuelan professional soccer player Homero Calderón remains in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Folkston, Georgia, nearly six months after his arrest. The Department of Homeland Security stated Calderón will remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of his immigration proceedings.

The Department of Homeland Security stated Calderón had permission to stay in the U.S. until September 5, 2025. Officials also stated Calderón overstayed his authorized stay in violation of U.S. laws. Calderón applied for an extension of his tourist visa on August 25, 2025, and applied for an EB-1A visa for persons with extraordinary ability.

Calderón is the father of two U.S. citizens, ages 1 and 3. He signed his first professional contract with Sport Club Guaraní in Venezuela at age 16. He later played professional soccer for the Italian team A.S.D. Arboris Belli 1979.

Ramón Calderón, a U.S. citizen and the brother of Homero Calderón, said the family followed legal steps. "He followed every single step of the process legally to obtain the legal status," Ramón Calderón said. He described the situation as difficult for the family.

"We've done everything under the legality of what the immigration laws are. So it's very, very hard and very difficult for our family to see him go through this nightmare," Ramón Calderón said. He noted the duration of the detention has been unexpected.

"We thought his case was strong, that we will get him out on bail and then follow his process and everything was going to be good there, but it's been six months," Ramón Calderón said. He added that the family seeks a final answer on the visa and residency case regardless of the result.

Daniela Molina spoke about the emotional toll of the detention in a video published on social media. "I've been 17 years with Homero. I had never heard him cry or ask for help like he has," Daniela Molina said.

Why It Matters

The backlog of cases at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services stands at 11.3 million pending cases. The USCIS backlog increased by more than 1.6 million cases since 2025, according to an analysis by the American Immigration Council. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services processed about 41% fewer cases at the beginning of the 2025 fiscal year compared to previous periods, according to an analysis by the American Immigration Council.

Shev Dalal-Dheini is the senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association. Adriel Orozco is a senior policy counsel with the American Immigration Council. Their roles place them in positions to comment on immigration processing trends and policy impacts.

Timeline

Homero Calderón applied for an extension of his tourist visa on August 25, 2025. The Department of Homeland he stated Homero Calderón had permission to stay in the U.S. until September 5, 2025. Homero Calderón was pulled over for speeding by the Marion County Sheriff's Office in Florida in late February 2026.

Homero Calderón was arrested for driving without a valid Florida license. PureSource News reported on 2026-05-18: Castro Charged for Nonfatal Shooting of Venezuelan Man.

What's New

PureSource News reported on 2026-05-18: Castro Charged for Nonfatal Shooting of Venezuelan Man. Homero Calderón is a Venezuelan footballer. Homeland Security is United States federal executive department.