Telemundo interview with Leonel Chavez 



ANCHORMAN
One of the two Mexican brothers detained in Connecticut has been deported. As these images he himself recorded show, Leonel Chávez was forcibly pulled out of the vehicle he was driving with his brother ten days ago. And even though he asked the agents to show him an arrest warrant, they still took him into custody.

We’re joined now by Leonel Chávez, who is speaking to us from Mexico. Thank you very much for being with us, Leonel. What did they tell you? Why were you arrested?

LEONEL
They didn’t tell me anything, they didn’t show me any warrant. I kept saying, “show me the warrant, show me the warrant,” and he said—no… no, he just said “roll down the window, roll down the window.” I told him, “show me the warrant,” and he didn’t want to. Then he broke the glass, tased me twice, and broke the seatbelt. That’s when they pulled me out.

ANCHORMAN
Where…?

LEONEL
And they never showed me any warrant. Never…

ANCHORMAN
Where did they take you? Once you were detained, where were you held?

LEONEL
They took me to the police station, and from the police station they took me to the hospital, and from the hospital they took me to a hotel parking lot.

ANCHORMAN
How long were you there before you were deported?

LEONEL
They took me to Hartford, then from Hartford to Massachusetts, and from Massachusetts to Texas. But in Texas they kept us locked inside the bus for two nights and one day. We kept asking for water—it was hot—and they’d say, “in half an hour we’re moving, in half an hour we’re moving.” But it was always “half an hour.” Until finally we all got together and encouraged each other. One of the guys said—we’re going to tell them if they don’t bring someone in here we’ll flip the bus—because we were already exhausted, tied hand and foot. They only untied our hands when we went to the bathroom.

ANCHORMAN
Well, what you’re describing sounds very harsh, Leonel. When did you arrive in Mexico?

LEONEL
I arrived today.

ANCHORMAN
Today. And…?

LEONEL
I mean—sorry, I arrived on Saturday. The Mexican consulate picked us up and took us to the National Guard of Tamaulipas. And they treated us—honestly I had a different expectation—but they treated us very well, escorted us all the way to Mexico City. So I had a different expectation of my country, but fortunately it was different.

ANCHORMAN
Leonel, let me go back quickly to these images. What happened with your brother Ricardo? And you also described being shot with a stun gun. Exactly, how did that happen?

LEONEL
Honestly, it all happened so fast I didn’t even see when… When they stopped me I thought they were the police. Everything was happening so fast and I was telling them, “show me the warrant, show me the warrant.” They were pulling me and I still had the seatbelt on. They cut it with something, I don’t know what, and they hit me with the taser. I still have the marks here and on my knee.

And what hurt us the most was that they treated us worse than dogs, worse than animals there in Texas. And at the end they were going to deport us by plane, but then they said “no, the plane left you.” And I said, “How could the plane leave us if supposedly you already have a program for the people who go by plane and for the people who go by bus? And supposedly they weren’t deporting at the border because people could just come back.” And many people have suffered. And we have to raise our voices. And the president has to do something for us. Mexicans always stay quiet, but I won’t. I want the president to see this because I saw my two brothers suffer. We are three, and I’ve seen all of us suffer.

I keep my faith in God. I prepared myself mentally. I said, I won’t do anything, I’ll just get to my country. And if God wills, the president—if the president hears this—I ask her to please do something for us. Because it wasn’t just me, it was many of us. And sadly, when we get out of there nobody complains, nobody says anything, we all just forget like always. But not me. I’m going to do as much as I can to help my people. Not only Mexicans—there were Venezuelans, Brazilians, Hondurans, Guatemalans—and we all went through the same thing, we all suffered the same. It really was an injustice.

ANCHORMAN
Leonel, who did you leave behind in the U.S.? Have you been in touch with them?

LEONEL
I left my children. Everything happened so fast, they don’t give you time to fix anything. Okay, one knows they entered illegally. But at least—I have all my children, many acquaintances. I help older people, they depend on me.

ANCHORMAN
We are seeing—

LEONEL
Too many. That’s what hurts the most: I tried to do things the best way I could. The only mistake was entering illegally.

ANCHORMAN
We are seeing images of you with your daughter. What message would you send her?

LEONEL
My daughter has been an exemplary pillar. I taught her to be tough, to defend herself in life. And now, now she’s done everything she could because, sadly, I’m here.

The only thing I ask is that the president help me. Just as she says she helps us, I hope and I pray to God that she listens to this video and contacts me personally. Because there were too many Mexicans with us. And if all Mexicans—I know they’re watching this program—if you saw that we all suffered together: raise your voices, call the consulate, or call Telemundo to help us. Let’s do this together. Please, let’s not stay quiet, even if we’re in Mexico.

ANCHORMAN
Leonel, what did you do for work in the United States?

LEONEL
I had a construction company. I did a little of everything. I started a company about four or five years ago. And my priority was helping people, especially the elderly. I have many elderly clients who are Americans, and they were surprised. Like they say, ICE is supposed to go after criminals. The moment they check someone’s record, they know who the criminals are. At least give us a chance—say, “buy your ticket and leave.” I even told them, “Can I buy myself a plane ticket and go?” And they said, “Oh, wait.” Always “wait half an hour” and I’ll tell you. I asked for a phone call to let my family know, and they never gave me one in Texas. Never. Always “oh, wait half an hour,” “we’re busy with people.” And besides that, there were more buses parked in the lot.

So it wasn’t just us. There are too many.

ANCHORMAN
Leonel, I’m truly sorry for what happened. Thank you for your time, and I hope your family is well, and that you are too.

LEONEL
No, they will be well. First, they will be well, and I know this will reach the president. That she helps us. Sheinbaum, help us. I ask God for it. And I know you will help us. And I know you’ll reach out to me. The only thing I ask God is that this doesn’t end here.

ANCHORMAN
Leonel, thank you very much. Thank you for your time.

LEONEL
Thank you.