I.C.E. detains father after traffic stop in St. Joseph 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Just a few days before his high school graduation, Dayton Guerrero received a heartbreaking phone call, that his father was taken in to custody by Immigration Customs Enforcement.

“You see it on the news everywhere but you never think it's going to come to your town or happen to your family,” Guererro said. "My dad (has) been here for several years now -- he’s spent more time in the U.S. than in his home country -- and now he’s in a detention facility with very limited ways to contact us.”

Guerrero, a Central High School senior set to graduate this weekend, sat down with News-Press NOW to recall the moment he learned his father had been arrested Monday morning.

To Guerrero, it felt like a normal Monday -- he expected to go to school, come home and see his father, but that wasn't the case after two unmarked vehicles pulled his family over.

“They had on police vests, so I thought it was just a court summons,” said Guerrero, recalling the moment agents arrived. “We've been dealing with some court issues between my mom and dad."

Luis Guerrero is currently being held in a detention center in Kansas as the family works to gather more information about his case.

News-Press NOW reached out to the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department to understand how often I.C.E. operations like this take place locally.

Shawn Collie, with the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, said their office doesn't work regularly with I.C.E. but will do so when a case warrants federal involvement. He noted that situations like this one are not uncommon when an individual has a criminal record.

“We’ve never seen I.C.E. act randomly or without reason,” Collie said. “Typically, it's always suspect-specific. There's usually a prior history that prompts their involvement.”

Local law enforcement emphasized that steps are taken to ensure that children and families affected by such arrests are not left unsupported. They added that their goal remains public safety, regardless of a person’s immigration status.

“Even when we arrest U.S. citizens, crimes don’t just impact the person being taken into custody -- they affect entire families,” Collie said. “We try to be empathetic and support those families. At the same time, we’re committed to doing what’s necessary to keep the community safe. That might mean jail or prison, or in some cases, referral to drug court.”

For the Guerrero family, one of the hardest aspects has been the limited communication with Luis and the uncertainty around his well-being in detention.

“We’re not allowed to visit him. We can only talk over the phone and the phone lines are so bad it’s hard to understand each other,” Guerrero said. “People need to realize that this isn’t okay. These are human beings, not just ‘illegal aliens’ like people often say. They deserve the same rights as everyone else.”

The family recently received a court date for May 27. They are urgently trying to secure legal representation but say they will not give up on bringing their father home.

“We’re going to keep trying. We can’t lose hope -- because that’s exactly what they want,” he said. “People in this country need to come together, not divide. We’re stronger when we stand united.”

Guerrero is also preparing for another emotional milestone, graduation on May 18, an event he had always hoped his father would attend.

“My dad is probably one of the biggest reasons I’m even graduating this weekend,” he said. “He helped me through school and now he won’t be there to see it.”

Through it all, the Guerrero family says they’re grateful for the outpouring of support from friends, neighbors and the community.