Sonny Lasquite from GoFund Me page
The detainee, identified as Sonny Lasquite, 44, was stopped upon arrival and transferred to ICE custody. Federal records confirm that he is currently being held at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia.
Past conviction cited in reports
News outlets citing federal court documents report that a 2012 federal narcotics conviction was the basis for the detention. Court records from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York show that Lasquite was convicted in August 2012 of conspiracy involving controlled substances, received credit for time served, and was ordered to pay a $200 fine.
Legal grounds for detention
Under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(B), a lawful permanent resident can be placed in removal proceedings if convicted of certain controlled substance offenses, with limited exceptions for a single offense involving possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana. The statute applies regardless of when the conviction occurred. Immigration cases for detainees held at Stewart are heard before the Lumpkin Immigration Court.
About Stewart Detention Center
Stewart Detention Center is one of the largest immigration detention facilities in the United States. Located in Lumpkin, Georgia, it operates under contract with ICE and holds noncitizens in civil custody while their immigration cases proceed. The facility houses individuals from various states, including those transferred after airport stops or local custody.
Current status
As of August 12, 2025, ICE records show Lasquite remains in custody at Stewart Detention Center pending immigration proceedings.
Public Petition: Help Stop the Deportation of Sonny Lasquite Permanent Resident since 2002. Who Paid His Debt 13 Years Ago and has been a law-abiding good human being since then with a heart of gold.
We, the undersigned, are calling on immigration authorities, elected officials, and human rights organizations to stop the deportation of Sonny John Lasquite, a lawful permanent U.S. resident currently being held at Stewart Detention Center in Georgia.
Sonny is a Filipino immigrant who has lived in the United States since 2002.
In 2013, he was charged in a non-violent drug-related case. Sonny took full responsibility, cooperated fully with the government, and served as a key witness in support of law enforcement. As a result, he was never sentenced to jail. He fulfilled the legal process and moved forward with his life, just as the justice system intended.
For more than a decade, Sonny has lived quietly and responsibly. He has become a respected member of his Las Vegas community.
Now, in 2025, Sonny is being punished all over again for the same case, detained by ICE, far from home, and facing deportation. This is not justice, this is double punishment for a matter that was resolved 13 years ago.
This case reflects serious constitutional concerns:
• 5th and 14th Amendments – Sonny is entitled to due process. He already went through the legal system and fulfilled his part of a plea deal.
• 8th Amendment – Detaining a non-violent man for a resolved offense, in a facility with a history of abuse, is cruel and excessive.
• 6th Amendment – He is being held far from legal support and loved ones, with limited access to a timely and fair hearing.
This is not just about Sonny.
We understand that there are hundreds, even thousands of immigrants going through the same unjust process, people who made a mistake, paid for it, and still face permanent exile from the only home they know.
It is a shame that we as human beings are beginning to show a lack of empathy, and a total disregard for human rights, equality, and fairness.
If we fail to show compassion for people who have already paid their dues, who are simply trying to live peacefully and contribute to society, then we have lost sight of what justice and humanity really mean.
We are calling for:
• The immediate release of Sonny Lasquite from ICE detention
• A halt to his deportation proceedings
• Public attention from elected officials, immigration advocates, and media
• A shift in how our system treats immigrants with past records who have turned their lives around
Sonny is not his past. He is a son, a friend, a neighbor, and a human being. He deserves dignity, safety, and a future in the country he has called home for over two decades.
Sonny’s case is extremely difficult per all Lawyers.
We need help, the Lawyers need help. Sonny needs our help! Emails! Ask your friends, friends to email these govt officials. For Sonny!
https://www.rosen.senate.gov/email-jacky/
https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/contact/connect/
#FreeSonny