• Jacobo Zapeta Castro surrendered, according to his family.
  • ICE offers a different version.
  • Immigration dispute continues.

The ICE arrest of a Florida bakery owner has fueled a new controversy over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations after the family of the detained Guatemalan businessman claimed he voluntarily surrendered to protect his employees. Meanwhile, the federal agency maintains that the operation targeted him alone because of his immigration and criminal history.

Jacobo Zapeta Castro, owner of El Quetzal Bakery and Café, remains in federal custody following an operation carried out on Wednesday, July 8, involving federal agents, state law enforcement officers, and members of the local community.

Although both sides agree that the businessman exited the establishment and was taken into custody without incident, the circumstances leading to his arrest remain in dispute.

Family Says the Florida Bakery Owner Surrendered to Protect His Employees from an ICE Arrest

The operation took place on Lucerne Avenue in Lake Worth Beach, where numerous agents surrounded the bakery while employees, relatives, and neighbors remained inside and around the business.

According to employees, Jacobo Zapeta Castro voluntarily came outside after believing agents might enter the bakery and detain his workers as well.

One employee, Gilmer Zapeta, told local television station WFLX that the owner made the decision out of concern for the safety of those who worked with him.

His family said the surrender resulted from negotiations intended to avoid a confrontation that could have endangered employees, customers, and others inside the bakery.

They also said that Mariana Blanco, a representative of the Guatemalan-Maya Center, served as a mediator during discussions between the businessman and federal agents.

ICE Says the Operation Began After Agents Located His Vehicle

ICE has presented a different account.

The agency said its agents located a vehicle connected to Jacobo Zapeta Castro at approximately 10:30 a.m. and attempted to stop it before it reached the business.

According to ICE, the businessman allegedly tried to ram an official government vehicle during that attempt.

The agency further stated that he later abandoned the vehicle, ran into the bakery, and remained inside while authorities secured the perimeter with assistance from other law enforcement agencies.

ICE said he eventually exited the building and was taken into custody.

In its statement, ICE identified Zapeta Castro as a Guatemalan citizen and said he had previously been removed from the United States four times.

The agency also alleged that he had a criminal history that included illegal reentry after deportation, driving under the influence, hit-and-run, and resisting law enforcement.

Children Dispute ICE’s Account of Jacobo Zapeta Castro’s Immigration Status

Zapeta Castro’s children publicly challenged the description provided by immigration authorities.

According to the family, he held a valid work permit and a valid driver’s license at the time of the operation.

They also said he regularly complied with his immigration obligations and that there was no active deportation order against him.

Family members further emphasized that he has operated a longstanding business, pays taxes, and provides jobs for several families in the community.

So far, no court or immigration records have been made public that would confirm the exact legal status of the business owner or resolve the conflicting claims.

Community Questions the Large Law Enforcement Presence

The operation raised concerns among immigrant advocacy organizations and residents of Palm Beach County.

Several witnesses said the number of officers deployed to arrest the owner of a small family business appeared excessive.

The family also stated that two of Jacobo Zapeta Castro’s teenage children, both U.S. citizens, were present during part of the operation and were exposed to the situation while agents attempted to persuade their father to leave the building.

Authorities have confirmed that ICE and state law enforcement participated in the operation and that the businessman was taken into custody without any reported injuries.

However, several key questions remain unresolved.

Among them are whether the businessman actually attempted to ram an official vehicle, what his precise immigration status was, whether there was an active order against him, and whether his decision to surrender was, as his family claims, motivated by a desire to protect his employees.

Until official records are released to clarify these issues, Jacobo Zapeta Castro’s case remains marked by conflicting accounts and numerous unanswered questions.

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SOURCE: La Nación