Daniel Fuentes Espinal, a longtime Maryland pastor known for his community outreach, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while leaving a Lowe’s parking lot.

Fuentes, who has lived in Maryland since 2001 after fleeing Honduras, was detained by immigration officials this week for overstaying a six-month visa issued over two decades ago, sparking concerns among faith leaders and immigrant communities nationwide, the Christian Post reported.

The 54-year-old, originally from Honduras, entered the U.S. legally in 2001 but did not exit after the expiration of his travel visa. Immigration authorities arrested him Monday in Easton, Maryland, as he returned to a construction job after a morning stop for building supplies and breakfast.

Congregation shocked by sudden arrest

Espinal served as pastor of Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama, a local Nazarene church he joined in 2010 and where he was named pastor five years later. He had built a reputation as a comforting spiritual leader and support figure for the Hispanic community in Easton.

The arrest, described by ICE as standard enforcement of overstayed visas, left his congregation and family grief-stricken. Church members and locals filed over a dozen letters praising his work and pleading for reconsideration of his detention.

Espinal has no criminal history, and his green card application process was already underway through his eldest daughter, Clarissa Fuentes Diaz. She had been waiting for her interview appointment to sponsor his permanent residency just before the arrest occurred.

Pastor transferred across multiple detention centers

Following his initial arrest, Espinal was held overnight in a facility near Salisbury before being moved to the Baltimore ICE Field Office. While held in Baltimore, he was forced to sleep on a bench due to the absence of beds, which triggered joint pain, according to his daughter.

On Thursday, authorities relocated him to a federal detention facility in Louisiana. Once there, Espinal received medical treatment for ongoing heart and stomach-related conditions, with Clarissa sharing that a nurse had begun administering appropriate medication.

Despite being in federal custody, Espinal reportedly continued his religious mission work. He began offering prayer and ministry to both fellow detainees and some ICE agents while in detention.

Family suffers amid immigration action

His family, including his wife and three children, has been emotionally shaken. Clarissa described her mother as unable to eat or sleep due to overwhelming anxiety about her husband’s condition and access to care while imprisoned.

Clarissa also recounted that her father did not immediately realize he was being arrested until he was approached by uniformed officers asking for ID and then handcuffed. She later noted that while officers were courteous, the situation left them devastated.

A GoFundMe campaign launched to support the family had collected over $29,000 by Saturday morning. The campaign's description emphasized that Espinal routinely provided help such as food, shelter, and emotional assistance to the community’s most vulnerable residents.

National spotlight on immigration enforcement

His detention comes during a time of increased immigration arrests across the country, part of broader federal efforts to intensify deportation actions. These actions are in line with President Donald Trump’s stated policies on immigration enforcement during his ongoing campaign.

Faith-based organizations, including the National Association of Evangelicals and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have voiced concern about targeting religious leaders. A report in April highlighted that a vast majority of undocumented immigrants at risk—about 80 percent—identify as Christians.

Espinal is not the only pastor affected in recent months. Earlier this year, Florida-based Evangelical leader Maurilio Ambrocio was deported to Guatemala after legally reporting to ICE for years. In June, five people affiliated with an Iranian-American pastor’s church in Los Angeles were also arrested, with two flagged by Homeland Security for national security concerns.

Support grows from the community and faith leaders

Sandra Perez, a dedicated parishioner of his church, said Espinal's absence has created an “emptiness” in their congregation. She emphasized the depth of his contributions to the church and the impact he had as both a spiritual guide and a community helper.

"He is not a criminal," Perez stated. "His role in this church and town has been life-changing for so many people, including me." Her statement echoes the sentiments of many congregation members and Easton residents.

While community support remains strong, Espinal’s future remains uncertain as his case proceeds through immigration channels. His family hopes that public attention and legal advocacy may yet allow him to stay in the country he has called home for nearly a quarter-century.