Two Brothers, Ages 14 and 18, Were Part of a High School Mariachi Group Honored by Congress Last Year
Two teenage musicians from South Texas who were once recognized by Congress for their achievements are now at the center of a growing immigration controversy after federal authorities detained them and their family during a routine immigration appointment.
Antonio Gámez Cuéllar, 18, and his younger brother Caleb Gámez Cuéllar, 14, are members of Mariachi Oro, the award winning mariachi ensemble at McAllen High School. The group gained national recognition after winning a state mariachi competition and later traveling to Washington, D.C., where members were honored on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The recognition came at the invitation of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, whose district includes McAllen. During their visit, the students toured the White House and celebrated their accomplishments alongside members of Congress.
Now the same teenagers are part of a high profile immigration case that has sparked criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Family Detained During Immigration Check In
According to relatives and supporters, Antonio and Caleb were detained along with their parents, Luis Antonio Martínez and Emma Guadalupe Cuéllar, and their 12 year old brother Joshua during a Feb. 25 appointment with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The family had been checking in regularly with immigration authorities as required while their asylum case moved through the courts.
Supporters say they complied with every appointment and immigration requirement before being detained. A girlfriend of one of the brothers and other relatives later launched a GoFundMe campaign to help the family with legal expenses.
The detention has drawn national attention not only because of the brothers’ musical achievements but also because their family had been actively participating in the legal immigration process.
One Brother Released, Others Still Detained
Antonio Gámez Cuéllar, who recently turned 18, was released Monday afternoon from a federal immigration detention center in Raymondville, Texas. He left the facility without speaking to reporters, and his attorneys also declined immediate comment.
The rest of the family remains detained.
According to federal officials and lawmakers, the parents and two younger sons are currently being held at a family detention center in Dilley, Texas, about an hour south of San Antonio.
Earlier, Antonio had been held separately in an adult detention facility after turning 18, which drew criticism from advocates who said the case highlighted how immigration enforcement policies can separate families.
Mariachi Program Has National Recognition
The brothers are prominent members of the McAllen High School Mariachi Oro program, one of the most accomplished high school mariachi groups in the country.
The ensemble has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the White House and has won eight state championships in Texas.
Their success helped elevate mariachi education programs in South Texas and brought national attention to McAllen High School’s music program.
Bipartisan Criticism From Texas GOP
The family’s detention has prompted reactions from elected officials across the political spectrum.
Rep. Monica De La Cruz, the Republican congresswoman who invited the mariachi ensemble to Washington, said the situation is deeply troubling.
“The Gamez Cuéllar family’s story breaks my heart,” De La Cruz said.
“South Texans know better than anyone that we can secure our border and still treat people with dignity. These are not competing values.”
De La Cruz said she has been in communication with federal immigration agencies and requested access to visit the detention facility while exploring possible legal options for the family.
McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos, also a Republican, voiced support for the family as well.
Villalobos said he continues to advocate for “responsible pathways for law abiding individuals who want to contribute to our economy, support their families, and become productive neighbors in McAllen.”
Democratic Lawmakers Also Push Back
Texas Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro also criticized the detention and visited the four remaining family members Monday at the Dilley detention facility.
Castro had previously visited the same center while advocating for the release of a 5 year old boy from Minnesota, Liam Conejo Ramos, who had been detained there with his father.
Castro said he had met the Gámez Cuéllar brothers during the congressional event honoring their mariachi performance.
“The entire Gámez Cuéllar family did everything the right way,” Castro said. “They applied for and were granted asylum. They attended every court date and immigration check in. ICE detained them anyway.”
Castro questioned why the teenagers were welcomed to perform at the U.S. Capitol but later placed into detention.
“Donald Trump said he was going after criminals and people who were dangerous to Americans,” Castro said. “How is it that these two young men were good enough to perform at the United States Capitol and tour the White House, and yet the administration has them sitting in a detention center in Texas?”
Rep. Adriano Espaillat of New York, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, also condemned the detention.
“This family followed the rules, showed up to their immigration appointment in good faith, and is now being torn apart by ICE,” Espaillat said.
He also criticized the separation of the 18 year old from his parents and younger brothers while they were held in different detention facilities.
Immigration Officials Defend Enforcement
Federal officials have defended the detention.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security said ICE detained the parents because they were in the country illegally and that the agency does not intentionally separate families.
“ICE does not separate families,” the spokesperson said. “Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administrations’ immigration enforcement.”
ICE did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment regarding Antonio’s release.
A Case Drawing National Attention
The Gámez Cuéllar family’s case has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate, particularly as the Trump administration pushes an aggressive deportation strategy.
For many, the situation underscores a stark contrast of two teenagers once recognized in the halls of Congress for their musical accomplishments now navigating the uncertainty of immigration detention while their legal status is decided.
As lawmakers continue pressing federal agencies for answers, the future of the remaining family members still being held in Dilley remains unclear.
