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Helena man detained by ICE during traffic stop, sparking protest
- Christopher Martinez, a 31-year-old Helena resident, was arrested and detained by ICE agents on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Helena during a traffic stop.
- Law enforcement originally searched for Anderson DeJesus Bastidas Linares, a suspect with an active felony warrant, but mistakenly stopped Martinez who matched the suspect's description and had an expired license plate.
- HSI and U.S. Border Patrol identified that Martinez had an outstanding federal hold and took him into custody, while Helena Police noted their involvement was uncommon for local warrant cases and was driven by specific investigative requirements.
- Martinez's wife, Maria Pacheco, expressed how frightening the arrest has been and the impact it has had on their four children, while local residents demonstrated in support of Martinez and his legal team quickly submitted an urgent habeas corpus request to the federal court to challenge his detention.
- A federal court has issued an order preventing Martinez from being transferred out of Montana while his case undergoes judicial review, highlighting concerns about his detention and its impact on his family and local community.
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ICE arrests Helena man after mistaking him for another person
Helena resident Christopher Martinez, a 31-year-old who is a citizen of Mexico, was taken into federal immigration custody on Tuesday after being mistaken for another person sought by law enforcement.According to Helena Police, this is the first incident of its kind they are aware of this year.Its something really scary, it can be really scary, said Maria Pacheco, Martinezs wife. Cause you think that youre fine. You think that everything is goin…
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