Jasper County resident faces possible deportation after traffic arrest

You may have heard of similar events in other locations.

Now it’s happening in Jasper County.

Frank De La Peña Ochoa of Carthage was pulled over for a minor traffic offense just over a week ago.

But although De La Pena has been in the nation since he was a teenager, he isn’t a United States citizen.

He reportedly holds a Guatemalan passport.

After his arrest on August 9th, his case was turned over to ICE.

His daughter says in a Facebook posting her father is not a criminal.

She calls him a “staple in the community.”  She says her father “started Carthage Soccer Academy, a non-profit organization, with the help of many to give children a safe space to belong and get to know God.”

He preaches at a local church and shares videos of his sermons online.

She has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for a lawyer and paperwork.