JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 Helplessness, fear and anxiety. That\u2019s how one United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainee described his 29 days inside a Northeast Florida detention center, where he says he\u2019s had no timeline, no clear answers, and difficulty finding legal help.<\/p>\n
Macario Pablo-Reyes, 49, has been held for weeks at the state-run immigration facility at the Baker County Correctional Institute, sometimes referred to as the \u201cDeportation Depot.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a rare moment, Pablo-Reyes spoke to News4JAX in a phone interview from the facility to share his story. <\/p>\n
His relatives also told News4JAX they have struggled to get updates from ICE, raising questions about communication with detainees, access to legal resources and how long immigrants can remain in detention while awaiting removal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been locked up in here for almost four weeks, and I still don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen to me because there\u2019s no one to give you information,\u201d Pablo-Reyes said in a phone interview on Monday that News4JAX translated from Spanish to English. <\/p>\n
Detained after immigration appointment, family says<\/p>\n
Pablo-Reyes\u2019 family said he went to an immigration appointment on Jan. 8, believing it was related to renewing his work permit. Instead, they said, he was taken into custody immediately and told he would be deported to Mexico.<\/p>\n
Pablo-Reyes said he is not fighting deportation, but is frustrated by the lack of information about the timing of his removal.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019m just wasting time here,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on with me. Nobody gives me information.\u201d<\/p>\n
RELATED |Jacksonville lawmaker files Florida bill that would order ICE officers to identify themselves, ban face masks in public<\/a><\/p>\n Pablo-Reyes said he has lived in the United States for more than 20 years and has worked in construction. He has lived in Jacksonville and in Clay County, his family said. He said he wants to return to Mexico but remains detained and separated from his family, including his sons, 16 and 19.<\/p>\n Deportation Depot housing facility in Baker County (WJXT)Concerns about legal access and case updates<\/p>\n Pablo-Reyes said he has tried calling numbers posted inside the facility for legal assistance but has not been able to reach anyone.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many signs on the walls here that say there\u2019s legal assistance, but the information is useless,\u201d he said. \u201cYou call, and nobody answers.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that other detainees also appear uncertain about what will happen next.<\/p>\n \u201cMany people here don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen to them,\u201d Pablo-Reyes said.<\/p>\n A Jacksonville immigration attorney who represents multiple clients at the Baker County facility told News4JAX that she has heard similar complaints from detainees who are unsure of the status of their cases. The attorney said the immigration system is overwhelmed, which may be contributing to delays.<\/p>\n Macario Pablo-Reyes with his sons, who are now 16 and 19. (Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.)Family says emails went unanswered<\/p>\n Pablo-Reyes\u2019 stepdaughter, Alexandria Ventre, said the family repeatedly emailed ICE seeking information and received few responses over the past weeks. <\/p>\n \u201cNo responses from the immigration field office,\u201d Ventre said. \u201cThey continuously either ignore the emails or they say that the family\u2019s concerns have been forwarded to his ICE case manager or case worker.\u201d<\/p>\n Ventre said she also has been unable to locate her stepfather through ICE\u2019s online detainee locator, which is designed to help families find people in immigration custody. A new bill<\/a> moving through the Florida Legislature aims to fix the issue. <\/p>\n