Washington school district vows to ‘protect’ student parent with criminal record arrested by ICE, slated for deportation

ICE told The Ari Hoffman Show on Talk Radio 570 KVI that Fernando Nimacachi Matzar, 51, a citizen of Guatemala was arrested on January 29 at a laundromat in Langley, Washington. According to the agency, he had previous convictions for disorderly conduct and assault and was previously deported twice from the United States to his home country. He returned to the US on an unknown date.

Court documents obtained by The Post Millennial’s Katie Daviscourt showed Matzar’s criminal history, dating back to 2011, including assault, disorderly conduct, DUI, reckless driving, and making false statements to a public servant. On June 14, 2021, Matzar was convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI), reckless driving, and making false statements to a public servant in Island County.

He was sentenced on August 14, 2021, to 364 days in jail and was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. Matzar was released from custody after serving 313 days behind bars, according to court records. He was initially charged with the offenses on October 23, 2018. District Court Judge Ronald Costeck presided over this case. Additionally, court records show that the Oak Harbor Police Department issued a warrant for Matzar's arrest on June 7, 2015. He was found guilty years later, on April 29, 2021, for making false statements to police. On June 6, 2011, Matzar was charged with minor possession and/or consumption; however, a judge dismissed the case without prejudice. He also had a warrant for his arrest in this case, per court filings.

In an email to the South Whidbey Island School District, Superintendent Jo Moccia wrote about the arrest, "It has come to our attention that one of our school parents has fallen victim to the immigration raids that have begun in our country. Our hearts go out to their spouse, children, and friends." She also gave families a link to guidance from the state’s Office of Public Instruction on Immigration Reform Assistance which outlines requirements concerning student privacy, access to educational services, and immigration enforcement on school campuses. The requirements include enrolling all students, regardless of immigration or citizenship status, ensuring students who are illegal immigrants have access to all regular school programs, and having a policy for responding to immigration enforcement actions using the awareness that schools have no legal authority to enforce US immigration laws.

Moccia added, "At South Whidbey, we will do everything we can to protect our students when they are at school, no matter their citizenship status.” The email did not disclose why the parent was arrested but did spark several hoaxes in the Seattle area on social media about ICE raiding schools. Moccia emphasized in a second email that the arrest didn’t happen on school grounds but noted, “It is our understanding that ICE officers are patrolling the area. You have rights under the US Constitution.”

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School Board President Brook Willeford told KOMO News, that the community has rallied around those affected "beautifully," adding, "One fantastic thing that people can do to prepare themselves is to download and print out Red Cards so that they know what their rights — and the rights of those around them — are.”

According to the outlet, Red Cards “offer advice on how to deal with immigration raids and affirm constitutional rights. The cards tell the holder to not open the door, not answer any questions, and not sign anything during a raid. They also include a script informing the ICE agent that the holder is using their constitutional rights.”

Last week, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement also announced the arrest on Jan. 29 in Sheridan, Oregon of Olin Ranulfo Navarro-Valle, 40, a citizen of Honduras who had been convicted in the US District Court for the District of Oregon for illegal reentry, who had been previously deported.

The agency also announced the Feb. 1 arrest in Ferndale, Washington of Miguel Tomas-Antonio, 30, a citizen of Guatemala, and Exequiel Quezada-Sanchez, 56, a citizen of Mexico arrested Feb. 1 in Ferndale, Washington, both had previously been deported to their home countries.

Gilberto Francisco Lorenzo, 44, a citizen of Guatemala was also arrested Feb. 1 in Portland, Oregon, convicted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona of illegal reentry, previously removed to his home country.

All of the illegal immigrants mentioned in this article will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings. ICE ERO Seattle, which operates in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, has apprehended a number of illegal immigrants with serious criminal histories as part of President Donald Trump's border security since he returned to the White House on January 20. This includes several arrests last month of criminal aliens with convictions including child rape, sexual battery, assault with sexual motivation, lewd acts with a minor, and other violent offenses.

"Protecting our communities, and preventing further further victimization is of paramount importance to ICE throughout the Pacific Northwest," said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Seattle Field Office Director Drew Bostock. "These arrests reinforce the message that the presence of illegal criminal threats will not be tolerated."

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by dialing 866-347-2423 or completing the online tip form.

On Friday, ERO Seattle arrested a criminal alien from China, who had previously been convicted by the Superior Court of the State of Washington for drug manufacturing. He was wearing an Amazon driver’s jacket at the time of his arrest. It is unclear at this time if he was working for Amazon or a third party.