DC-area baseball coach detained by ICE after traffic stop, family says

Amaury Monsalve, known locally as 'Coach A,' has coached youth baseball in the Washington DC region for over 25 years, including at Alice Deal Middle School, Jackson-Reed High School, and Woodson High School, WTOP reported.

Monsalve, originally from Venezuela and a lawful permanent resident living in Virginia, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Louisiana after a judge denied his citizenship case on October 19, according to his family and WTOP.

The family said Monsalve had a scheduled hearing related to his citizenship case on October 19. The day before, he was stopped by DC police while working as a chauffeur. Police reported that Monsalve was pulled over for allegedly running a red light and found with a handgun, a fifth of tequila, and a clear bag containing a white powder reportedly identified as cocaine.

Monsalve was held overnight following the traffic stop and did not emerge from the immigration courthouse the next day. His wife and son learned that ICE had taken him into custody as the courthouse was closing, WTOP reported.

Monsalve has since been transferred between multiple detention facilities and is currently held in Louisiana. A bond hearing is scheduled for November 3, and an appeal filed on the day he was taken into custody remains pending, according to WTOP.