Kelly Wiley

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper used an encrypted messaging app to communicate with what appears to be federal immigration agents during a traffic stop that led to the detention of an Austin Independent School District student, body worn camera video shows.

The video obtained by KXAN shows the early morning May 1 traffic stop of high school senior Luis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria. The 18-year-old varsity soccer player was pulled over for alleged expired vehicle registration and later detained at the Karnes County Immigration and Processing Center before being released on a federal court order last week. His arrest and detention, just weeks ahead of his high school graduation, prompted U.S. Congressman Greg Casar, D-Austin, to publicly call for his release.

The body camera video shows the trooper initially informed Cabrera he would receive a ticket for driving without a license. The teen said he only had his school identification card. The trooper is seen minutes later in his vehicle taking a picture of Cabrera’s school ID card and sending it through the encrypted messaging app Signal. The response to the trooper’s message and photo was an image and a message that read “detain.” The trooper responded to the message with his location and within minutes a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent arrived.

When 18-year-old Luis Fernando Cabrera walked into St. James’ Episcopal on Sunday, with his two-year-old nephew on his hip, church members met him at the door with long embraces. The teen had been noticeably missing from the east Austin church since the beginning of May, when a traffic stop over expired registration led to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detaining him — a moment that, up until last week, threatened to upend his quickly approaching graduation and ability to stay in the country.

After nearly a month in detention, and a federal court order demanding his release, the congregation that organized and advocated for Cabrera’s return was huddled around the teen in the middle of the sanctuary, praying over him.

“I feel happy to be here again and to be free,” Cabrera said in Spanish. “Thank you to everyone who helped me from the beginning — friends, family and people who I did not know. I am very grateful. I’d like to meet everyone.”

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The family of Austin Independent School Distict student Luis Fernando Cabrera shared video this morning showing them reuniting with the 18-year-old after weeks in ICE detention. A federal judge ordered US immigration officials to release Cabrera on Monday.

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A judge on Wednesday ordered the release of an Austin Independent School District high school senior from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody, court records show. Luis Fernando Cabrera, 18, was pulled over and subsequently detained by immigration authorities in early May.

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U.S. Congressman Greg Casar, D- Austin, on Monday met with several Texans detained inside Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, including an Austin Independent School District high school senior detained weeks before his high school graduation and an Austin elementary school teacher who has been detained for nearly a year.

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U.S. Congressman Greg Casar, D-Austin, on Monday called on the federal government to release 18-year-old Austin Independent School District high school senior Luis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.

Cabrera Chavarria has been at Karnes Immigration Detention Center since May 1, after a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper pulled him over on his way home from a late-night shift at a fast food restaurant. The teen is set to graduate from high school in June.

“Fernando should be in these robes, not in a jail cell,” Rep. Casar said as he held on to a baby blue graduation garment Cabrera Chavarria had already taken pictures in.

The teen’s legal team, which includes longtime civil rights activist Jim Harrington, said on Friday they filed a habeas corpus petition they hope will secure his release before the teen’s graduation.

Friends and supporters of Austin ISD student Luis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria gathered on Thursday to advocate for his release from U.S. Immigration and Enforcement custody. The teen is being held at the Karnes County Immigration Processing Center, according to government records.

An Austin Independent School District high school senior was detained by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement while driving home from his job early Friday, according to his family and others familiar with the situation.

Luis Fernando Cabrera Chavarria, 18, is a senior and the goalie on the varsity soccer team at Northeast Early College High School. Cabrera Chavarria was set to graduate in June, according to his sister and soccer coach. Government records show he is now being held at Karnes County Immigration Processing Center.