A father of four in Mississippi is facing deportation after being reported to federal immigration authorities over what his lawyers describe as a minor infraction—an alleged case of illegal dumping that typically results in a fine.
Kerlin Moreno-Orellana, a 35-year-old construction worker originally from Honduras, was arrested on June 16 in Jackson while accompanying his employer, Christy Parker, to view an abandoned property in the city’s south side. Both were accused by local police of illegal dumping. Parker denies any wrongdoing: “We didn’t throw anything away or leave anything behind,” she told Mississippi Today.
Despite the minor nature of the allegation, the Jackson Police Department contacted local news station 16 WAPT to film the arrest, claiming it was part of an effort to “deter” future violations. The situation quickly escalated when police also alerted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
While Parker was released within hours, Moreno-Orellana—who holds a valid work permit—was transferred to an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.
“He didn’t do anything more than I did. But I’m white—and I’m free,” Parker told Mississippi Today.
The following day, a municipal judge ordered Moreno-Orellana’s release. However, ICE had already issued a “detainer,” requesting that local authorities hold him until his immigration status could be reviewed. Though not a formal arrest warrant, such detainers are automatically honored in Mississippi under a 2016 law requiring local cooperation with ICE.
Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones confirmed to Mississippi Today that no policies had been broken: “What we’re doing now is what we’ve always done.”
Immigration attorney Jeremy Litton noted that while ICE detainers are common, direct referrals from on-the-ground police officers—such as those from Jackson PD—are a more recent development. “It’s usually the detention centers that notify ICE, not the patrol officers,” he explained.
Moreno-Orellana has lived in Mississippi for over 16 years. He previously had a brush with immigration enforcement in 2019 after being cited for speeding and driving without a license, which resulted in more than a month in detention.
This time, ICE is holding him on the grounds that he allegedly violated conditions of a previous bond release. “This kind of infraction shouldn’t be enough to justify deportation—especially for someone with a work permit,” said Matt Steffey, a law professor at Mississippi College. He linked the case to a broader political shift: “It looks like part of the increased pressure from the Trump administration to ramp up removals.”
Moreno-Orellana is the sole provider for his family. His wife, a stay-at-home mother caring for their children, told Mississippi Today she is devastated. “I’ve always been here for our kids. He was the one bringing food home. I’m not thinking about myself—I’m thinking about them. They need their father.”
Friends and coworkers describe Moreno-Orellana as quiet and hardworking. “He’d come home from work, that was it. He never said no to anyone who needed help,” Parker said.
Source: Mississippi Today
https://mississippitoday.org/2025/06/25/jpd-called-ice-on-miss-father-who-faces-deportation-for-illegal-dumping/
