John Gannon has expressed profound regret over his decision to support President Trump after his fiancée, Yasmin Suarez Reyes, an immigrant from Venezuela, was apprehended and detained by federal immigration authorities last month.
Aged 75, Gannon, a lifelong Republican and businessman from Texas, stated that his plans to marry 45-year-old Suarez Reyes were disrupted when she was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Houston’s international airport in late July.
“I voted for Trump,” Gannon shared during a CBS News interview on Wednesday, voicing his discontent with ICE. “They are targeting law-abiding individuals. They’re tearing apart families and disrupting jobs.”
When asked what he would say to Trump if given the opportunity, Gannon replied, “What are you doing?” He emphasized that while he supports taking action against criminals, the focus should not be on innocent families. “He’s destroying families,” Gannon lamented.
The couple had intended to fly from Houston to Las Vegas on July 24 for a furniture industry convention. Gannon operates over 1,000 billboards across the U.S. and owns several businesses in Mexico, including a hotel and a restaurant.
After clearing security at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Gannon recounted that his fiancée was approached by agents in plain clothes. “As soon as we left the United lounge, eight officers, who were ICE agents, surrounded Yasmin and took her away. They didn’t explain anything and forcibly put her into a car,” he explained.
Anne Kennedy, Suarez Reyes’ immigration attorney, who is also a lifelong Republican, stated that her client was detained despite legally entering the U.S., having an ongoing immigration case, and no criminal history.
Records reviewed by CBS News confirm that Suarez Reyes entered the U.S. legally in October 2023 under the Visa Waiver Program. Although originally from Venezuela, she holds Spanish citizenship, which qualifies her under this visa-free travel arrangement available to citizens from over 40 countries.
The Visa Waiver Program generally allows for a stay of up to 90 days. However, documents indicate that Suarez Reyes applied for asylum with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in January 2024, prior to the expiration of that period. Her asylum application is still under review. Kennedy noted that during this time, her client was able to obtain a work permit and a Texas driver’s license.
Additionally, Kennedy mentioned that if Suarez Reyes married Gannon, an American citizen, she would have a pathway to apply for permanent residency, or a green card.
However, due to the expiration of her initial permission to remain in the U.S., Suarez Reyes was detained for deportation processing, as indicated in communications Kennedy received from ICE.
CBS News made multiple attempts to contact the Department of Homeland Security regarding Suarez Reyes’ situation but has not yet received a response. Earlier this week, ICE’s online detainee tracking system showed that she was being held at the Montgomery Processing Center in Conroe, Texas.
Suarez Reyes is among many immigrants recently detained at airports nationwide as part of the current administration’s intensified deportation efforts. Last month, ICE recorded a surge in arrests, reaching a record high, partly due to these airport operations.
Similar to Suarez Reyes, many of those arrested during the airport crackdown occupy a precarious legal status, possessing valid work permits and ongoing immigration cases, yet remaining susceptible to apprehension due to the expiration of their status.
Back in Texas, Gannon expressed how much he misses his fiancée. “She has brought me closer to my faith,” he said, his voice trembling. “Yasmin is truly a wonderful person.”
